“Our Unchanging God”
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“Our Unchanging God”
By: Pastor David Grove
Recently I saw an online image that caught my attention. It was a simple saying yet very profound and a wonderful reminder. It said, “New Year, New Challenges, Same GREAT GOD”, how true that is. With another new year comes new challenges. We are already into this new year, and I wonder how many new year resolutions have already been broken. The first week the gyms are packed, “I gotta’ get rid of those extra pounds from all those chocolate chip cookies… lol”. Then, by the second and third week the gyms seem to be emptier. Things change, people change and circumstances change and believe me I’ve seen it many times in my life especially in ministry. But the one thing that never changes or should I say the one person that never changes is God. The Bible tells us several times about the consistency of God’s eternal character. Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change.” Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” and James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” I love the last part of James 1:17, “does not change like shifting shadows.”
As mentioned above, every person, thing and circumstance change at some point in our lives. This past year may have been a wonderful year for you and that is a blessing. But for some, the year was filled with trouble, heartache, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, their health took a turn for the worse and they couldn’t wait to hear the countdown 10,9,8,7…3,2,1 and for that ball to drop and a new year to begin. As Christians the way in which we hold ourselves during adversities and circumstances show a great deal of where our “true walk” with the Lord is. I’m not saying that as a Christian you won’t stumble when difficult times hit. It’s only natural for us to ask questions of why we’re going through them, but we should not stay in that mindset long at all. Many times, I’ve heard people say they know that God is always there and that God will not give more than we can handle, yet when trying times come upon them, they get angry with God and lash out at others. This is not the way a Christian should be who say’s they trust in the God who takes the impossible and makes it possible. Please remember that statement, God takes the impossible and makes it possible. As the writer of Hebrews states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” we either believe this in its entirety or we don’t, we can’t believe it only when things are going our way. I’m so thankful that God is unchanging.
Just like you I’ve had too many people hurt me throughout my life, personally and professionally and when I read that the God who created all things and created us in His image and likeness doesn’t change, I rejoice in this truth. We know that God will never leave us nor forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5) but I want to give you a couple of little nuggets to put in your back pocket and tuck it away so you can pull them out on a day that seems like it just can’t get any worse.
First, God does not change with the tide of popularity. He doesn’t look at the latest fads and say, “I need to change to fit in”, He never changes. As a Christian we should never compromise who we are in Christ. Remember, “we are in the world but not of the world”, (John 17:14-16). Second, God is unchanging in His commands for us as His children. The Bible never says that we are to be perfect, because we can’t. But the Bible commands us to live a life that is Holy and Pleasing to God, (1 Peter 1:15-16). Here’s a challenge for you, look back on this past year and ask yourself, did you hurt someone by something you said or how you treated them? Did you gossip about someone, and it hurt them? If you did anything that is even remotely the same then, you were not living a “holy and pleasing life unto the Lord.” As a Christian you must go to that person and admit what you did and apologize to them. (Eph. 4:32, James 5:16) What’s your language like? If Jesus was standing by you, would you speak in the same manner? Would you treat another person in a wrong manner if Jesus was standing there? These are just a few questions to ask yourself. God commands us to live a life that is “holy and pleasing” unto Him. Lastly, God is unchanging in His love for us. Just as He is the “same yesterday, today and forever” His love is eternal. Jesus came to die for sinners like you and me, he came to suffer for you and me, if that’s not showing God’s eternal love I don’t know what is. One of my favorite scriptures that sums up the love of God is Romans 8:38-39. Read it closely and your walk with the Lord will become stronger just by knowing how much He loves us.
“38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Friends, this is how much our unchanging God loves us. The physical world and the people upon it along with the spiritual world can throw anything at us and God will protect us because of His love for us that is only found through Jesus Christ.
Yes, this new year will bring about many challenges and changes but remember, “New Year, New Challenges, Same GREAT GOD!!”.
Keep, “JESUS FIRST In ALL THINGS”,
Pastor David