In a world of change, God does not.
Have you ever wondered if God allows us free will to change, does he change with us?
Let’s drop anchor and dig through some versus and discuss this.
Versus
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8
This verse is regarding our faith leaders. Even though they have our interest at heart and they offer wisdom (most of the time), we still need to always look back to Jesus and God. They are always the truth.
“I the Lord do not change. So you, descendants of Jacob are not destroyed.” – Malachi 3:6
This is referencing Gods dispute with the people for not tithing properly. This also references out admittance of sin. God (through the blood of Jesus) does and always has forgive our sins as we confess them.
“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself is the Rock eternal.” – Isaiah 26:4
This verse speaks for itself. God is the Rock eternal.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” – Mathew 24:35
All Jesus’ teachings and promises are reliable because he is God. We can take them to heart and make the foundation of our lives because they are eternal.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God gives us more than simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating his ideas; it has living, life changing, and dynamic power that works in us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon’s knife, God’s Word reveals who we are what we are not, it penetrates to the core of our moral and spiritual lives. It discerns both the good and the evil within us. God’s powerful Word will change us. We must not only listen to it; we must also let it transform our lives.
Note: we can change, but God does not? – Discuss
“For prophecy never had it’s origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God” – 2 Peter 1:21
Scriptures did not come from the creative works of the prophets’ own invention or interpretation. God inspired the writers, so their message is authentic and reliable. God used the talents, education, and cultural background of each writer – they were not mindless robots – and he cooperated with the writers in such a way as to ensure that the message he intended was faithfully communicated in the very words they wrote.
“A voice says, ‘Cry out’. And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All the people are like grass and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” – Isaiah 40:6-8
People are compared here to grass and flowers that wither away. We are mortal but God’s Word is eternal and unfailing (dig into the unfailing of God’s word). As we grow older, the vital bodies we had as young people begin to decline. As we fade physically, we can see the enduring quality of God’s Word more clearly. This reminds us to count on him for eternal life and not our own strength. (1 Peter 1:23-25). God’s Word remains constant. Only in God’s eternal Word will we find hope, comfort, and eternal security.
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you” – 1 Peter 1:23-25
Quoting Isaiah 40:8, Peter reminds believers that everything in this life – possessions, accomplishments, people – will eventually fade away and disappear. Only God’s will, Word, and work are permanent. We must stop grasping the temporary and begin focusing our time, money and energy on the permanent, the Word of God and our eternal life in Christ.
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1
Knowing this, and knowing God is eternal, and that his Word has not changed, we find that God has never changed, since the Word he’s given to us has not changed.
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” – Proverbs 30:5
As we work to know him more, we learn to trust in God’s Word. But what does that mean? Trust is built over time and through consistency. God allows us to build our faith in him by staying the same and never changing.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2
God’s will for us is clear, from his point of view. Renewing your mind and diving into his word will allow us to become closer to him. A way God does that for us, is to be a rock and a foundation that does not change or go away. It’s always the same.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” – Psalm 90:2
Written by Moses, this is part of the oldest of the Psalms. Even back then he knew God would last forever, unchanged and everlasting.
“So, I said: Do not take me away my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” – Psalm 102:25-27
We don’t know who wrote this Psalm, but the writer felt rejected and tossed aside because of his great troubles (102:9-10). Problems and heartaches can overwhelm us and cause us to feel as though God has rejected us. But God, our creator, is eternally with us and will keep his promises, even though we may feel alone. The world will perish, but God will remain.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and the End.” – Revelation 22:13
These were words given to John when Jesus talks about his second coming. This brings a new light to our forever unchanging Lord, not only is Jesus never changing, he’s coming back prove it!
“God never changes moods or cools off in His affections or loses enthusiasm. His attitude toward sin is now the same as it was when He drove out the sinful man from the garden, and His attitude toward the sinner the same as when He stretched forth His hand and cried, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’” – A. W. Tozer. (Christian Pastor/Author)
God has given us his word through an eternal teaching, the Bible itself. Does the Bible change? Does his word to us through the prophets and from Jesus change?
So, I tell you after our discussion… The Bible (God’s Word) clearly tells us that our Lord, and his Son Jesus are unchanging. I don’t know about you, but I’m a fan of knowing that this will always be the way and that we can always look back to our Lord, his Word and his Son for an anchor. So in this world of change, I count on the fact that God does not change!
Jeremy Crozat