Life is full of changes.
As a nurse, I have seen change on an ongoing basis. Process changes, new drugs, policy changes, new leadership, new staff, and the list goes on. In nursing, change is part of the profession. My co-workers and I used to joke that change is the only thing that stays the same. We knew it would happen. So adapting to changes was a part of our work and life.
As new believers in Christ, we start with a change.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
God’s Word can change us to be like Christ as we grow and learn.
One thing to remember is that God does not change. He is our eternal Father.
“God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations” (Grudem, 2020)
This is an attribute of God called immutability. God does not change.
As people, we change our minds often. Somethings it is hard to trust people. Just think if God was like that? How would we feel?
I love the way Arthur W. Pink says about the immutability of God. He puts it this way,
“Herein is solid comfort. Human nature cannot be relied upon, but God can! However unstable I may be, however fickle my friends may prove, God changes not. If he varied as we do if he willed one thing today and another tomorrow if he were controlled by caprice, who could confide in him?” (1975)
God’s immutability provides us comfort.
“None of his attributes can increase or decrease because each is unchangingly infinite. His knowledge cannot increase or decrease. His faithfulness cannot increase or decrease….He cannot become more holy or less steadfast. He simply is these things to the utmost—forever. The God who was is the God who is. The God who is is the God who is to come. The God who is to come is the God who was.” (Wilkin, 2016)
In the beginning, God promised a Savior to the world. A plan and purpose he had before he created the world. Just think if halfway through the Old Testament, God changes this promise? How would our sins be atoned?
“The permanence of God’s character guarantees the fulfillment of his promises” (Pink,1975)
“God tells us, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6 NLT).
Hebrews says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (13:8 NLT)
James 1:17 NLT says, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
Our lives will change; however, we can have comfort and confidence in the character of God’s immutability.
References
Arthur, P (1975) The Attributes of God
Grudem, W (2020) Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine 2nd Edition
Wilkin, J (2016) None Like Him 10 Ways God is Different From Us (and why it is a good thing)
This is good!!!