If there is a theme that has come up again and again in my scripture reading time this week, it’s the immutable character of God. From the psalms to Malachi where I camped, I kept hearing this concept. What does it mean that God is immutable? Are there any implications to that character of His for us believers? In addition to this character, the omnipresence of God was also highlighted in my readings. This post, rather than being long simply seeks to expound on those two characters of God and hopefully draw out lessons and or encouragements relevant for us in our Christian walk.
First, let us start with the immutability of God. In Malachi 3 God tells the returned exiled this: “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6). Here, God is speaking to a generation of Israelites that are still trying to regain their true identity as people of the living God. This is a generation that only knew exile, the ways of God were foreign to them. God in His mercy brought his messengers and servants in the persons of Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi and others to help restore Jerusalem and the service in the Temple. Yet, when God addresses these Jews, He tells them something crucial about Himself and that is: “He does not change”. What this means in layman’s terms is that “God is the same yesterday, today and forever”. You have probably heard this saying or said it yourself. It is indeed a trustworthy saying, God is immutable. You cannot change Him; He is the I AM. He just is! James says something similar and calls God the one “who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). What is remarkable about this character of God is that it implies that His expectations do not change either; it also implies that His covenant too does not change. Hence, He tells the Israelites that because He does not change, they have not been destroyed. This is because God had a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and it continued for the people of Israel. If it weren’t for that covenant, the descendants of Jacob would have been destroyed by now because of their sin, their rebellion against God and their disregard for the covenant of their forefathers. God on the other hand did not change, He continued to uphold that covenant and kept His part of the promise. Just to show how unchanging God is, this covenant was not made with the Jews God was speaking against, yet God expected these Jews, who had no idea of what it meant to be Jew to honour the covenant He had with their forefathers and by extension them. God does not change. Unlike man who changes based on the season or his mood, situation, circumstance, God does not and is not affected by anything. There is absolutely nothing in this world that can impact God to the point of changing Him. He is that incredible. For some reasons, this truth hit me differently this week. It reminded me that, as much as Christians like to categorize God as the “God of the Old Testament” for some or the “God of the New Testament” for others, in reality there are no such categories, there is only one God: the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. What He required in the past, He still requires today. Sin is still an atrocity to Him, He still hates liars, perjurers, proud people, foolish people, idolaters, etc. so do not think you will get a pass because Jesus came and redeemed you. In fact, he redeemed you and now expects you to live the redeemed life. It is not because Jesus secured a place for us in the kingdom of God that we should think we get a pass at not honouring God though obedience to His commands, decrees, laws and instructions. What have you been neglecting to do as a “New Testament” Christian because you believe it only applied to the Old Testament (laying aside the requirements that Christ fulfilled on our behalf)? I pray you think about it honestly and repent of whatever the Holy Spirit will bring to your mind. We ought to treat God as the same God that He is. His character is unchanging, and He does not change His mind.
The second character that was common was the omnipresence of God, particularly in the lives of those who wait on Him. Psalm 46 says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) or take Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”; added to these verses is the assurance that God’s presence eradicates fear. Psalm 46 continues and declares that because God is an ever-present help in trouble, fear will not be the portion of those who trust in Him. Where God is, there is peace, there is stability. In fact, later in that same chapter are the popular phrase “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” It is impossible to believe that God is present and be afraid. The truth about His presence deserves to be marinated and ruminated into our hearts until we become fully aware of the great and mighty God we serve. Indeed, God’s presence is with us who are in Christ everywhere we go because He has given us His Holy Spirit – our advocate, our comforter, our helper, the one who reveals the Father to us, yes, we have become hosts of His very presence. What a privilege to be entrusted with God Himself! I don’t know about you but when I think about the God who was very specific when it came to how to minister in His temple, I cannot help but think that we, hosting Him in our bodies mean He dictates how this new temple that we are ought to be. Paul alludes to this implication in 1 Corinthians when he says “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This charge from Paul shows us that it is possible to dishonor God with your body. We who are in Christ need to remind ourselves daily that we own nothing, we have nothing, we are entitled nothing, we are insignificant. This humbles us and allows us to see ourselves in our truest form. We are what and who we are because of Christ. He makes us something, He gives us a name, He makes us lovable before the Father, He gives us a pass into Heaven, He gives us purpose. We cannot boast of anything! I pray to be able to remember these truths, to exalt Christ more and diminish myself because it is not about me after all!
In conclusion, knowing that God does not change is both comforting and frightening. Comforting because I can trust His character, His actions, and know I can depend on Him. Frightening because I know His requirements still have to be met, He does not bend the rule for me and He still expects me to deliver my end of the bargain. In all this God still wants to be honoured as He ought to be. This honour is best shown in our obedience to Him. May God grant us the grace to revere Him as He ought to be. May He instill in us the fear of the Lord so that we might gain wisdom to know how to act towards Him. Amen.
A Word Aptly Spoken 