A Changeless God: Yesterday, Today, and Forever
I serve a changeless God. God has remained the same for 50+ years as my heavenly Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Certainly, the Creator of the universe is one constant we can count on. He’s not like people who tell us one thing today and tomorrow something else.
Whether God changes or not reminds me of a false doctrine called open theism. Essentially, proponents believe God doesn’t know the future thereby humans can exercise the free will God gave them. Open theists try to explain the unexplainable by discounting God’s omniscience and His sovereignty. Don’t be deceived. Open theism justifies sin by saying God changes who He is to suit people and their behavior.
I’m thankful God doesn’t change at the drop of a hat. If He did, He wouldn’t be God. Why would anyone worship a changeable and fickled God? In my opinion, the example below is the most important case to show God does not change. Because He didn’t, He sent His son Jesus to save people from sin.
A Changeless God: He Gives Instructions to Benefit Mankind
Here are select scriptures where God gave instructions to the Israelites to bring them out of Egypt.
Exodus 12:3 – Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month. Each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
Exodus 12:6-7 – Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
Exodus 12:11 – This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
Exodus 12:24 – Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.
A Changeless God: He Gave the Same Instructions to Christians
- Receive the blood’s protection: The Israelites’ obedience guaranteed that no destructive plague would touch them. They and their household would be safe because they trusted the “blood of the lamb.” Today’s Christians do the same thing. They put their trust in the shed blood of Jesus. By putting our confidence in Jesus and His finished work, we’re safe and protected for eternity.
- Feed on the lamb: The lamb the Israelites ate before exiting Egypt represented the Lord’s slain body and His shed blood. Christians feed on Christ by being intimate with Him by digesting His Word often to build up spiritually and increase faith. His food lasts when worldly resources fail.
- Be ready at all times: Notice in verse 11 that the Israelites were ready to go when they ate the lamb. They only took enough unleavened dough with them for a few days. We’re also to stay alert and be willing to leave things and trust God. The Bride of Christ stays in a continual attitude of preparation by focusing on the Bridegroom. Christians are different because they’re betrothed to Jesus and set themselves apart just for Him—to be holy without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. The Bride wants to be with her Bridegroom more than anything else!
- Remember this ordinance: Jewish people continue to observe the Passover celebrating what God did for them. Christians do the same thing when they take communion and recognize their dependence on Jesus as Savior and Lord.
A Changeless God Anchors People
Do you have a trusted friend who no matter what they’re dependable? This scripture describes how God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 1:10-12
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain;they will all wear out like a garment.You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
When I commune with God, He often brings scripture to my mind. They’re words I need to meditate on even though I may not want to. When I let my flesh lead, my spirit gets dull. But God’s in the business of abundant life and scripture is what turns me in a better direction. That’s true when I allow God’s Word to penetrate deeply into my heart.
God Remains the Same
Christians live finite lives and have limited knowledge. Contrast that to God who is infinite and all-knowing. When circumstances arise, He doesn’t cower in fear as we do and wonder what’s the best thing to do. He’s righteous, loving, and wise in every situation. And He doesn’t respond robotically to His children. He considers each person, where they are in their relationship with Him, and the best way to grow them spiritually.
It’s refreshing to me that while living in a tumultuous world, God’s not rattled. He’s steadfast and immovable. I love how David Jeremiah, Senior Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, describes God.
God created the universe, the world, and each of us with distinct purposes in mind. His plans were established from before the foundation of the world. His intentions and decrees don’t evolve with more knowledge for he is all-knowing. He doesn’t second-guess himself like we do. The fact that God is changeless is a source of profound security for you and me. Because it’s the opposite of how we live, we can take hope in knowing that when we are afflicted, overwhelmed, and encircled by our enemies, we can turn our eyes to him who is always the same.
A Changeless God Always Does the Right Thing
People turn on friends and relatives instantly, but God loves us unconditionally. He doesn’t give up or condemn us when we treat Him like crud. He keeps loving us no matter what. But if you reject His Son that’s a different matter. You’ll be separated from God for eternity in a very hot and dark place.
God hasn’t kept that truth to Himself. Jesus preached the message of salvation while on earth because He doesn’t want anyone to perish. Make sure Jesus is your Lord and Savior today. God will always offer salvation to people because He’s an unchanging God until He closes that open door.