Rev. Angus Stewart
In a world of frequent and often disturbing, even devastating, change, it is the believer’s great comfort that he knows and serves the unchangeable God. With lay-offs and uncertainty in our employment, fluctuations in the stock market, concerns over our health or that of our loved ones, revolutions in the Arabic-speaking nations, and fears for the future, we are supported by the truth: “I am the LORD, I change not” (Mal. 3:6).
Jehovah is the great, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise God, with whom is absolutely “no variableness” or even a mere “shadow of turning” (James 1:17). He alone can declare of Himself, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:14). He is always Triune (as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit); always perfectly blessed, rich and full; always sovereign, decreeing and governing all things in heaven, in the earth and in the seas (Ps. 135:6). He is always unchangeable in His manifold virtues, righteous will, glorious purposes and faithful promises in the Lord Jesus.
The Most High’s mercy towards His own people in Christ “endureth forever,” as Psalm 136 affirms in each of its 26 verses! The work of grace shall be completed in each of every one of Christ’s sheep (Phil. 1:6), for “whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). The infinite might and grace of God are pledged for the defence and preservation of His elect church (Ps. 125:1-2), the object of the unceasing care of Him who never “slumbers nor sleeps” (Ps. 121:4).
Even the terrible sins of His people do not cause Jehovah’s lovingkindness towards us to fluctuate or cool, never mind turn to hatred. Instead, out of His great love for us, He chastens us, as a good father does his son, to bring us to repent of our evil and so experience again His mercy in the forgiveness of our iniquities (Heb. 12:5-11). As Malachi puts it, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob [despite your many, heinous transgressions] are not consumed” (3:6).
This is our consolation, that nothing is able to separate Jehovah’s elect, believing people from the unchangeable love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39). All those whom Christ loved, He “loved them unto the end” (John 13:1), even unto the bitter and shameful death of the cross, where the Son of God laid down His life for the sheep the Father gave Him. As the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8) and, since He changes not, we are not—and can never be—consumed!
