I am impressed by how life is ever changing. And we all know how changes can be thrust upon us quickly without advanced notice. A dear friend is struggling through the fallout of a failed marriage. A pastor friend has just been driven out of his pastorate by unscrupulous church leadership. My brother is recovering from a very sudden bicycle accident. Mixed with all the personal changes I see with friends and family, are the larger societal changes
that are ever present and ongoing as it relates to Covid, vaccines, openings, etc. Change is the name of the life game. Some changes are for the better—others not so much. One could place a banner over modern life that reads: Life is unpredictable and ever-changing. We live in an ever-changing world. I bet Adam said to Eve: “Honey, we are living in changing times.” There are moments where the only thing you can be certain of is change. How refreshing then to believe—in fact to know that God will always be the same. No one else will.
Relationships come and go. A company can offer a pay raise this month and a pink slip next. Friends may applaud you when you are prospering and question you when you’re not. Psalm 102:27 tell us “God, you remain the same, and
your years will never end.” And “Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of heavenly
lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1
Do you think God has mood changes? Think again. Do you ever fear exhausting his grace? Or think he may give up on you? Wrong. God does not manifest our weaknesses—He is not human, so He does not change his mind. He is not sullen nor sour, sulking or stressed. His strength, truth, ways, and love do not change. Hebrews 13:8 declares, “He is the same yesterday and today and forever.” And because he is, the Lord “will be the stability of your times.” (Isaiah 33:6). God’s plans will not change—because he is sovereign and he has perfect knowledge. He declared “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10)—and as such nothing takes Him by surprise.
In affirming God’s changelessness I am not inferring that we should be passive and unempowered
about living fully. It’s all right to dream and plan and think about the future, we
would be foolish not to, but don’t build your life around your plans so solidly that there is no
flexibility—no room for mysteries or diversions or change.
A farmer had these words engraved on his weather vane, “God is Love.” A neighbor asked: “What do you
mean engraving God is love on your weather vane … does that mean God’s love is as changeable as an arrow
turning in the wind?” No the farmer said… “I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. “
I draw strength from knowing in an ever changing world, with ever changing rules for living, and ever changing situations, relationships, and circumstances— that God is as Solid as a Rock—and His love and holy nature never change!
Faithfully,
Pastor Robert Zimmerman