We Worship and Serve an Unchanging God
Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8
Thirty years ago sitting in Nigeria on my own feeling sorry for myself, when Sandra and the boys were at home in N. Ireland – after she had to be invalided home because of illness – and I had little or no contact – no telephone, no internet, and very poor postal service. I didn’t know how things were at home.
I was living on my own with no Europeans or missionaries nearby. And for three months I was living in a mud house with rats and mice everywhere – no running water, no bath, no indoor toilet and poor cooking facilities.
I had the radio on for company as I was preparing notes for the collage. I can’t remember if it was a Christian radio station like FEBA or a cassette tape and I don’t remember who was speaking but I’ll always remember one statement that was said, “We worship and serve an unchanging God.”
What a message of encouragement to receive in that situation. That statement has influenced my life for many years.
Someone said to me the other day, ‘time makes changes’. There are tremendous changes throughout the world in country after country. Maybe sometimes we see these changes and think little about them, little realizing the tremendous significance of some of them.
It’s estimated that 70% of all the items in your supermarket didn’t exist ten years ago. Processed foods and microwaves replaced much of the cooking.
More information has been produced in the last thirty years than in the past 5,000 years. It is estimated that 50% of graduates are going into jobs that did not exist when they were born.
I’ve heard it put this way:
‘My great grandfather rode a horse but was afraid of a train.
My grandfather rode a train but was afraid of a car.
My father rode in a car but was afraid of an aeroplane.
I ride in an aeroplane but am afraid of a horse.’
Yes there are changes in transport? The older members of the congregation may remember the appearance of the first motor car on the road or the first tractor on the farms. It used to be to go to Belfast it was a day’s outing; now people travel every day to work.
Or the first aeroplane in the sky, when everyone stopped where they were to look and wonder at this thing flying overhead. When I was involved in the Christian Endeavour I used to fly over to England in the morning for meetings and fly back that evening. Now we have a shuttle service between earth and space stations that are in orbit around the earth. Even the excitement of going to the moon is now dull and nothing new.
What about changes in communication? The wonderful invention of the telephone is now not good enough, we talk about e-mail and internet. The computer, the silicon chip, and modern technology have revolutionised our lives. Almost every week we see and talk to our son and family in Spain with skype. When we were in Nigeria we didn’t even have the telephone.
Yes, we live in a changing world. Almost every day we hear of something new or something being updated and changed. When I turn on the TV, I can watch the crisis in the Middle East unfold in real time.
But as we turn to the Bible we read in Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change.” Or in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.”
Can we accept this? Is this possible? Do we not need a changing God for a changing world? Everybody says we have to change with the times. If we have to change and make changes then surely God also has to change.
But according to the Bible God does not change, and so this morning let us consider how this is so.
First, of all, the existence of God does not change. Many people today tell us that they do not believe God exists. When the Russian astronaut went to the moon he said, ‘I have looked everywhere and I do not see God.’
However, when the American astronaut went up he said, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” When we look at Scripture it does not attempt to prove the existence of God. The Psalmist says, “Before the mountains were born, or brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Ps.90:2
The Bible not only presents God’s existence as a fact that does not need to be proved, but goes on to say that the man who says there is no God is a fool. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Ps.14:1
Created things have a beginning and an end. But God was never created. He was always there. He exists for ever, and He is always the same. He does not grow older. He does not grow weak. He does not die. This is something that should make our hearts rejoice. God’s life is indestructible. He cannot be destroyed. The existence of God does not change.
God existed before the earth was created. When God created this physical universe, time began and when this world ends, time will end.
Let us therefore not be ashamed to stand up and be counted as one who believes that God exists. That He is alive today, and that He cannot and does not change. The existence of God is a fact and that will never change.
Secondly, we can say that the nature and character of God does not change. A brain tumour, an accident, or a sickness, can change the character of a man or woman. Have we not heard people say of someone who had some brain damage, ‘His whole character has changed; he’s not the man I used to know.’
It is so painful to see this change, sometimes not even recognising their own family? But what about God? Does He change? Let us look at some of the attributes of God:
- Look at His holiness. God is not like all His creatures for He is high above them in sovereign power, and perfection and purity. He hates sin and loves purity.
In Proverbs 15:26 we read, “The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to Him.” It is because of God’s holiness that our sins need to be covered over with the blood of Jesus Christ. He cannot accept sinful man, but only those who have had their sins covered.
The Lord says, “Be holy, because I the Lord your God am holy”. The Psalmist says, “The Lord is holy in all His ways,” Ps. 145:17
Our God is a holy God, and because He is holy He cannot change. He cannot change for the better because He is perfect and holy, and He cannot change for the worse because that would deny His very nature that Hs is perfect and holy.
When Moses drew near to God he had great respect and awe for he knew he was approaching a holy God. That same God is holy today.
When Isaiah had a vision of the Lord he saw angels calling out to one another “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory.” May we study His Word and meditate on it until we see a holy God.
- Another attribute of God that does not change is His justice and righteousness. The Psalmist said, “Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right,” Ps.119:137
The apostle Paul said to the Romans, “Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgement will be revealed.”
We do not always understand God’s justice, especially in a world where the innocent suffer and the guilty appear to go free; but we can be sure that God is perfect and just in all His doings.
As we read and study the Scriptures we see the justice and righteousness of God, as He dealt with the Children of Israel in the O.T. and in the life and work of Christ in the N.T.
At times we are perplexed about what is happening around us. But take encouragement from the fact that God does not change; that he will reward the righteous and continue to punish sin.
iii) Another attribute of God we should consider is that His love cannot change. The Bible says, “God is love”. And the apostle Paul says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
God has shown the meaning of true sacrificial love. He gave freely His only Son. This is something we can never fully understand, but as we read the Scriptures, we see again and again the love and patience of God.
In Jer. 31:3 we read, “The Lord said, ‘I have loved you with and everlasting love.” The apostle Paul said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine . . . nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Oh! The love of God is something wonderful. That love is still there. That love is present here today.
Sometimes people say nobody loves me. But we can tell them God loves you. If they are going through times of testing or trial in their work, or in their home, or in their personal life, then they should be reminded of this wonderful fact the love of God never changes.
Yes, the character of God never changes – His holiness, His justice and righteousness and His love.
3. The third thing we should notice is that the presence of God does not change. God is present everywhere, and there is no place in the universe He is not. The Psalmist said, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Ps. 139:7
Jeremiah the prophet said, “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?” The Lord is present everywhere. Surely this is a word of encouragement to us today. The Lord is in my situation. He is in your situation. He is in the present situation of this congregation.
He has not left us to our own wisdom or to our own fate. When you are perplexed and anxious, then sit down, be still, and know the presence of the Lord with you.
When Moses was arguing with God about leading the Children of Israel, the Lord told him, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex. 33:14
When you go back to your work tomorrow, or in your home situation, remember the presence of the Lord will go with you. None of us are left alone to face the problems. We are not left alone to make the decisions.
We should remember He is closer to us than breathing. In His great commission He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations. …. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Surely then this promise of His presence has two effects upon our lives. It gives us comfort, knowing that He is with us – that in every situation we may find ourselves, His presence is beside us and will carry us through.
Then there is the other side. It is a warning to us that the Lord is present, and therefore we should not shrink from our responsibilities. We should not seek our own selfish ways.
It should also serve as a warning to keep us from sin. The Lord is present. He sees our attitude. He sees our behaviour. He sees our work. He knows our words. May His presence with us help us to live lives worthy of His calling.
Yes, the presence of God will never change. In the beginning the Spirit of God was hovering over the earth. That same Spirit is still filling the earth. He cannot change. He is still present everywhere. He is in your home. He is in your situation and we should rejoice and be glad in His presence.
4. Then fourthly, the plan of God for salvation does not change. The apostle Paul said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15
Jesus said, “I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” Jn. 12:47 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – that fact has not changed. There is no other way to be saved.
Man may go to the moon. He may invent great and wonderful things, but he cannot save a man’s soul – only God can do that. That fact will never change.
The need of man is still the same. Generations may come and go. Man may live an independent life in so many ways, but the deep inner need of the soul remains the same, and only God can satisfy that need.
The Gospel message that Christ came to save mankind from his awful condition, and give him new life and new hope in God. The apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
Deep down in the heart and soul of man there is that desire after God. Men and women, who live in countries where they have never heard about God, feel the need to satisfy the soul.
We found this when working in Africa. They worship spirits. They worship gods, and they worship the unknown God as Paul found in Athens. The soul of man knows that there is someone out there somewhere, and it seeks after Him.
Salvation is the gift of God. It is eternal life. Doctors and surgeons can do wonderful things to prolong life, but they can never give eternal life. They can never give a soul the peace of God. But salvation gives us peace with God, and it gives us everlasting life.
Those who have faith receive salvation. This is the uniqueness of the gospel. Everyone, no matter whether he is young or old, no matter whether he is rich or poor; or strong or weak; if he/she has faith in Christ then he/she receives salvation and eternal life.
God’s plan of salvation does not change. God does not change in the saving of souls. Only God can do it, and praise God He is still doing it.
The Psalmist said, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place through all generations. Before the mountains were created or You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Ps. 90:1-2
Those are reassuring words. Knowing He never changes gives us a feeling of deep security. We depend on Him. With all the frightening changes that are happening all around us, it is good to know He will never be any different. God will never change, His Word is forever unchangeable, and the way of salvation is consistently the same.
The Bible, which is God’s Word, never changes. It is constant. It doesn’t alter or compromise to ‘fit in’ with our evil modern world. It doesn’t change because the Bible has come from an unchanging God. The Bible never needs to be altered or updated; He has had His say and it is settled.
The Psalmist said, “Forever O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.” Ps. 119:89.
Yes, there are changes all around us almost every day of the week. Yes, there are going to be changes in this congregation over the next few months. I trust we are prepared for those changes, But above all are we prepared for the changes Jesus Christ can make, and wants to made, in our lives when we surrender all to him.
Today let us praise God for we serve an unchanging God. Our situations may change. Our work may change. The leaders of our country may change, the leaders in our church organisations may change, the Minister in our church may change but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and or ever.” God said, “I the Lord do not change.”
This God who loves you and wants to save you will never change. He desires your love and devotion above all else. He invites you to humbly come to Him so He can save you.
Isaiah the prophet says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” Isa 1: 18
What we have heard today is very bad news for rebellious sinners. God’s nature does not change. That’s bad news for those who hope that God will “change his mind” and let them slip into heaven.
I’m sure many people fervently hope that the God of the Bible is not the God they will someday meet. Consider the following:
If God became less holy, sin would no longer be sin
If God became less just, sin would no longer be punished.
If God became less sovereign, man could take his place.
If God could forget, he might overlook our sin.
But none of those things are true. God cannot become less holy, less just, less sovereign, and he cannot forget anything. That means there is no escape from the hands of an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God!
On the other hand, this is very good news to those who want to be saved! God’s nature does not change. God’s attitude toward seekers does not change. That’s why John 6:37 is such a comfort. Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” We live in a world where you get one chance or two and then you’re out. You fail once or twice and then you’re history. But because God’s nature does not change, we may come to him at any time and be saved. This is good news for sinners who need a Saviour.
Ponder the words of this little verse:
Upon a life I did not live,
Upon a death I did not die,
I risk my whole eternity.
That is what it means to be a Christian. It means trusting in Christ so much that you risk your eternity on what He did for you when he died on the cross and rose from the dead.
Because God doesn’t change we can be at peace when everything else around us does.