SEARCHLIGHT
How would you and everyone else in the world be impacted if God was changing His ways from day to day?
SCRIPTURE
"I THE LORD DO NOT CHANGE…" Malachi 3:6 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
At the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, an economist professor overheard graduate students talking as they came out of a seminar. One student asked, “How did it go?” Another student replied, “ Wonderful. Everything we knew about physics last week isn’t true.”
In Santa Fe, a man became known for changing his mind. He called the newspaper to ask that his engagement announcement be withdrawn from printing. When he was told that it had already gone to press, he remarked “Oh well, I guess I will marry her then.”
You can be very thankful to God that He does not change. God clearly declares to the prophet Malachi “I am the Lord and I do not change.” [New Living Translation] His nature, will, and character are unchangeable. God does not get better or worse because He is perfect. The Bible says “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” [ Deuteronomy 32:4] “As for God, his way is perfect: the Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” [2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30]
The Bible goes on to state “But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” [ Psalm 102:27]
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GOD CHANGED? If He had a changeable nature, God would be less than God. In addition, because He is Creator, He could cause chaos because He could extend or reverse day or night and summer or winter. Tides would change. The growing season would be upset and the animal kingdom would be in turmoil. He could even stop time. What a mess the world would be.
If God changed, He would become like the weather meaning He would be very unpredictable and quickly changeable. In addition, He would be like people. Sometimes He would be kind and other times selfish. Sometimes loving and other times hating. He could become positive or negative, level-headed or moody, generous or stingy. God could not be trusted because sometimes He would be merciful and other times not forgiving. He could display righteousness and unrighteousness. At times He would be good and other times bad. Sometimes He would tell the truth and other times He would be lying.
You can be very thankful that God is not like you or me, human. His love and mercy are endless and new every morning. [Lamentations 3:22,23; Psalm 103;17] His power does not change. [Romans 4:20,21] The Bible goes on to state, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” [ Psalm 33:11] See Isaiah 46:10.
God will always express justice and righteousness. [Isaiah 28:17; Genesis 18:25] How blessed you are to know that God keeps his promises. [1Kings 8:56; 2 Corinthians 1:20]
God’s attitude is constant and His actions are consistent. His love for you is unconditional and unending. He will always be faithful to be God. What He says is true. He will never fail you. When you feel insecure, troubled, unsettled, or facing a crisis, God will never ignore you, overtalk you, look down on you, mock, slander, or disrespect you. Why? Because God does not and will not change. God loves you.
SOMETHING TO DO
How would your life be different if you did not know how God would treat you from one day to the next? For example, how would you wake up in the morning if you did not know that God loves you and will not stop loving you?
For additional Bible study, check out 1 Samuel 15:29; Zephaniah 3:5; James 1:17; and Hebrews 6:18.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I am so very grateful that You do not change. And I am so glad that this truth is so very clear in Your Word, the Holy Bible. Thank you for being unchangeable. Thank you that all You ever have been You will still be that today and tomorrow and throughout the future. I am so glad that I am blessed by you every day of my life. AMEN!