Things change but God is always the same

In a society and culture that is always changing, it's good to know that God is always the same. Society's values are always changing, culture evolves in what is acceptable, and fashionable. But the Bible declares that God is always the same.

Malachi 3:6 "I the Lord do not change. So you, o descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."

If God changed, even the faithful would be destroyed in the sense that they would never know God's will nor what He desires from them. So God does not change and the Bible gives us many pictures about this consistency of God. First, God is always good and the author of good things.

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."

The shadows change throughout the day, but God is always the same. He is always good, always there, and can be called upon any time. When hard times come, God is good. When good times abound, God is there. How can you know this constant God? Simply by looking to his best gift, Jesus Christ, who took the sin that separated men and women from Himself. In Jesus, we have the good and perfect gift of God's love. Another picture of God's consistency is Jesus himself.

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

The Bible declares that Jesus was in the beginning at the creation of all things. This same Jesus will be there at the end of all things. He never changes, his message is always the same. How can you know what God's message is? How can you hear the unchanging voice of the Lord? Read your Bible, listen to the words of the Lord.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Rest for your soul, as you listen to the invitation of Christ. Even as you consider the law of God, the Ten Commandments, you see that they stand forever the same. In those commands we see the requirements of God. Perfection is the goal, for only perfection can dwell in the presence of God. But perfection could never be obtained by anyone during their few years on earth. So, God sent the perfect savior, the one who never changes, to satisfy the requirements of the perfect law.

There's a powerful song by the Newsboys called "In Christ Alone." It speaks about this unchanging God. One of the verses reads:

"In Christ alone who took on flesh

"Fullness of God in helpless babe

"This gift of love and righteousness

"Scorned by ones He came to save

"Till on that cross as Jesus died

"The wrath of God was satisfied

"For every sin on Him was laid

"Here in the death of Christ I live."

God never changes, so he sent Jesus to help us humans who are always changing. Have you received God's unchanging love?

-- Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.