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August 18, 2008
Our Unchangeable God
by Betty Mitchell
For I am the Lord, I change not. . . (Malachi 3:6).
Everything in this world is subject to change. One irritating habit of us old folks is boring our younger friends with incessant stories of Òthe good old daysÓ and bemoaning the many changes we have witnessed over the years. It is true that it takes the perspective of time to really appreciate how much our world has changed. For example, high prices for gasoline are becoming the norm. My grandchildren find it hard to believe that when I was a child, my father paid 19 cents a gallon. But then, the average income was $1,110 a year. Manners, marriage, and moral issues, too, have changed so much that a Òtime travelerÓ from the Ô40Õs would view our society with shock and disbelief. Fashions come and go, our national security is fragile, and our leaders seldom keep their political promises.
Praise the Lord that even in such an insecure world, Christians can have perfect security because our security is based not on changing world conditions but on an unchanged and unchangeable God. What He always was, He always will be. And when He saved us, our salvation was not dependent on a passing whim, but on His own unalterable Word, ÒAnd I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my handÓ (John 10:28).
Eternal security is only one of GodÕs many promises, and, unlike man, God never goes back on His promises. ÒFor all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by usÓ (2 Cor. 1:20). When Christ returned to heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. That promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended to dwell with us forever. He also promised to come again and take us unto Himself. This is the hope we live with every day of our lives the hope that gives us the stability we long for as we patiently wait for that day. We know that God will not change His mind because His Word tells us: ÒFor ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heavenÓ (Psa. 119:89).
When God purchased our salvation, He did it because of His amazing love. Human love is fickle, dependent upon the recipient of that love. But GodÕs love is unconditional, dependent only on Himself. His love will never fail, no matter how often we may fail Him. If we are a child of God, we can rest secure in that love. We can claim the promise He made to Israel through Jeremiah: ÒYea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn theeÓ (Jer. 31:3). Let the world change all around us, but our God will never change.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Thomas Chisolm