“For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6, NASB)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NASB)
In the last theology topic post, I gave some thoughts on God's eternality. He transcends all time and all ages. Here, I would like to think about another essential attribute of God; His immutability. The immutability of God is His unchanging nature. It is the fact that, from eternity to eternity, He does not change. The fact that He does not change is not just a lofty philosophical concept to ponder. It has deep implications for our lives.
We need consistency. We value it anywhere we find it. But, in this world, nothing is totally consistent. There is always the chance that something can fall through, a wrench can be thrown into the plan, or some unforeseen change in circumstances can come along. People are inconsistent too. As we grow and experience various situations in life our personality changes. We change. This is why you can have a friend that is very close to you, but in the future they stop speaking to you. One, or both, of you changed and grew apart.
There is only one truly consistent reality. That is God Himself. I want to give you four ways this impacts our lives.
1. His promises can be trusted
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has he said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19, NASB)
This passage is telling us God will do what He says. Since He is unchanging, He never changes His mind or His will. There are verses that speak of God relenting, but that is not incosistent with this. Just because God relents does not mean He changed the plan. The relenting was always a part of the plan.
This is huge for us because it means we can totally trust every promise in God’s Word. We can have absolute certainty that He will do all that He has said. Everything around us is changing all the time and it can be very scary, but we can always know what to expect from God. His promises are true.
2. He causes things to change, but He does not change
“Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.” (Psalm 102:25-27, NASB)
It gives great confidence knowing that the changes happening throughout our lives are under the hand of the God who does not change. As I said earlier, people change due to the situations and circumstances they go through. God is different. The situations and circumstances change due to God. He remains the same. We can always go to a sure, unchanging rock in the middle of life’s changes. We can view God as a “rock of habitation to which I may continually come” (Psalm 71:3).
3. His will is certain to be done
“I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’.” (Isaiah 46:9b-10, NASB)
He declares the end from the beginning. That means everything will end exactly the way He intends it to. God will accomplish His will in your life! There is no question. It was already determined from the beginning. Since God does not change, all that He has determined He will do will be done. God is not like many of us, who start something with great enthusiasm only to fizzle out and abandon ship. When God sets a wheel into motion it always goes exactly where it is intended.
4. He will remain the only true God
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.” (Isaiah 43:10, NASB)
The God of Christianity is the only God. There are many idols and false gods, but only one true God. Throughout the history of the world, many religions have risen and fallen. Various cultures have introduced their own brand of religion. But among all of the world religions’ gods, the God of the Bible is the only one who has always been there from beginning to end. He never changes. The religions of the world do.
After all is said and done, it cannot be denied that our God is an unchanging God. The only thing left to do is to ask yourself this question.
Will I trust Him?
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