Today I wish to encourage you to trust in the Lord’s unchanging character.
In the study of theology, we call this the immutability of God. As Job, in the midst of life’s most horrendous difficulties proclaimed of God; “he is unchangeable” (Job 23:13). God’s testimony of Himself is; “I the LORD do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Not only does God’s character not change, He is incapable of changing His nature, His mind, His will, or His purposes.
Unlike our world which is in constant flux; “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.” As God is so unlike mankind in this regard, He is totally dependable, always fulfilling what He says; “Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19).
The nature of unchangeableness
In order for change to occur, something has to be either added or taken away. Both are impossible with God, since He is perfect in holiness and glory! The fact is; there is nothing that could possibly be added to Him or subtracted from Him. Not only so, but God is perfectly consistent in His character. He has no variations in character or in the expressions of His character. Thus, God is not open to external influence, nor is He lacking any degree of internal uniformity.
Unchanging Lordship
God exercises the unchanging purpose of His will to manoeuvre human history to bring into being what He has always determined should be. “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:21-22). Everything external to God, which is obviously under His sovereign care, is variable and changeable, but not God Himself who determines all things.
Application of immutability
As believers, we trustingly lean into the unchanging and determinative nature of God. We place our confidence in the trustworthiness of who God is and always shall be. The more changeable this world becomes, the more we embed our dependency in God’s unchanging character. Solomon says it well; “the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (Proverbs 3:26). Proven, trustworthy, and knowable; such is our unchanging Heavenly Father who we know through His Son “Jesus Christ (who also) is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Realise that the unexpected pains wrongly inflicted upon us by others, which often bring unwanted changes, are not reflective of God’s character. Yet the Lord does use them to grow us closer to him and develop greater Christ-likeness. In spite of life’s pains, the Lord’s mercy is consistently seen in that “every good gift and every perfect gift (which) is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
The greatness of immutability
He who is the Ancient of Days, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; He whose unchangeableness is legendary in maintaining His dominion, upholding His righteousness, and displaying His glory. To Him we cling. In Him alone we place our unreserved trust. Him we adore, and in Him we resolve to grow in faithfulness.
I encourage you today, as the Lord’s redeemed, to enthusiastically “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Let the world hear you celebrate the unchangeable character of our God!