"To every thing
there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven "
(Eccl. 3:1).
We live in a world of constant change. Time changes everything we see and
touch. Things that were "in" yesterday are "out" today. I remember when I
was a boy seeing all my father's old ties hanging in the closet. They were
wide and colorful, full of intricate designs. He never wore them so I asked
why. He said no one wears ties like that any more but he expected that if he
waited long enough that they would come back in style. I doubted that anyone
would every wear anything like those ties again, at least not unless forced
to do so at gun point! But sure enough, by the time I was in high school I
was able to borrow his old, outlandish ties and let everyone assume that I
had paid big bucks for them at the store.
The state of
the world is different than it was ten years ago; far different than forty
years ago. What will it be like ten years from now? As we read the Bible we
see that it has always been so. We see changes in society; apostasy and
return; dynasties thought eternal crumble and new ones take their places.
Individuals age and grow closer to God, or sometimes grow away from God. We
are accustomed to seeing things change.
It seems as if
everything changes but such is not the case! Our link to Abraham, Moses and
Paul is that we serve exactly the same God as they did. We may live in a
different time, under a different government, but we build our relationship
with the very same God, and for that reason the lessons they learned will
find application in our lives today. God does not change. Let us consider
this idea.
God's Existence Does Not Change
"Of old Thou
didst found the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands. Even they
all perish, but Thou dost endure, And all of them will wear out like a
garment. . . but Thou art the same, and Thy years will not come to an end"
(Psa.
102:25-27).
God had no
beginning nor does he have an ending. Children sometimes ask the question,
"Who made God?" The answer is that God did not need to be made because there
was never a time in which he did not already exist. He will never cease to
be, nor will he ever cease to be what he already is, He is deserving of our
trust because "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the
everlasting arms"
(Deut.
33:27).
God's Character Does Not Change
"And God said
to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM' and He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children
of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'"
(Exod.
3:14).
In the course
of human life, events may alter the character of a man. There are things
that happen to us that can change us forever. For example, a trusting soul
may become cynical when he has been betrayed. But nothing like this happens
to the Creator. He will never become less fair, honest, truthful, or good
than perfection will allow. The character of God today is exactly as it was
in Bible times, and as it will be long after this world ceases to be. Even
the name "Jehovah " or "I AM" bears out the eternal changelessness of God.
The New Testament describes God as "the Father of lights, with Whom there is
no variation, or shifting shadow"
(Jas. 1:17).
God's Purpose Does Not Change
"And the Glory
of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He
should change His mind"
(1 Sam.
15:29).
God does not alter his purpose. He does not go half-way into a job, then
realize that he has made a mistake and repent. All his plans are based upon
perfect wisdom and knowledge so he never has to! Nothing can take God by
surprise. If he were painting a room he would not paint himself into a
corner.
The Psalmist
declared, "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart
to all generations"
(Psa.
33:11). Some may wonder
about a few passages which seem to indicate that God does repent
(Gen. 6:6;
1 Sam. 15:11; Jon. 3: 10; etc.).
However, it must be understood that none of these suggest a change in his
eternal purpose, nor do they suggest that God was taken by surprise. They
are cases of God's reversal of his prior treatment of an individual or group
because the people had changed. If a people grew increasingly wicked, then
God's treatment of them changed from what it was before. If a people
repented and sought forgiveness, then God would bless instead of punish.
God's Son Does Not Change
"Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever"
(Heb. 13:8).
Jesus loves us as much today as he did on the road to Calvary. There is a
story of someone asking him, "How much do you love me?" Jesus answered,
"This much " and he stretched his arms out wide, and died. Certainly the
gift Jesus has given us shows us that his love is eternal. His death proves
that his love is undying. Jesus is "the Living One, and I was dead, and
behold, I am alive forevermore"
(Rev.
1:18). Jesus is "able
to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always
lives to make intercession for them"
(Heb. 7:25).
He is our absolutely trustworthy friend. What a friend we have in Jesus!
Conclusion
What is the
difference between our relationship with God and those in Bible times? We
worship the same God, not a new one. His character remains the same, we can
know what he is like now by observing what he was like then. His purposes
remain unchanged. The Messiah we accept is the same Son of God who they
looked for, welcomed, and accepted.
We may live in
a different age. We may rejoice that we live under a new covenant. We may
have a complete written revelation and therefore a more accurate picture of
God's eternal purpose, character and nature. But God remains the same. By
all means, place your eternal spirit in his hands.
Guardian of Truth - March 1, 1990
Other Articles
Friendship
A Singing Church
Dealing With Others
May the Guilty Party Remarry?
The Conversion of Saul
I'm of the Old School
For Past Auburn Beacons go to:
www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
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