God Is Immutable Series

God is Immutable

February 21, 2021

I don’t have many memories of life when I was a little kid. I assume I used a bottle when I was a baby. I’m not sure they had sippy cups when I was a toddler. I remember the plastic cups I used when I was a child. Eventually, I graduated to a real cup, made of glass because my parents believed I wouldn’t drop it and break it. Now, I drink my coffee in big cups, designed to stay hot for hours.

I’ve changed over the years. I grew up! I did things kids do. I’ve changed over the years. Maybe in some good ways and not so good. Growing up, I wasn’t anti-Jesus. I just didn’t know Him, and had no desire to know Him. Thankfully, I now know Jesus and life has changed for the better.

One thing I’ve noticed over the past year or so, and I don’t want to belabor this point, is that I’m getting older. Things are breaking down. Even when I don’t do anything, they break down. There’s more aches and pains than there used to be. I’m not complaining, I’m just noticing.

So . . . what’s the point of talking about my past and present? I’ve changed! Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually!

We’ve all changed. We’ve all changed in the almost 14 years that I’ve been here. Actually, some of you weren’t even born yet.

Change is a constant. Life is not what it used to be. Sometimes we’d like to go back to the calmer days of the 70's and watch Happy Days. Life seemed to be more settled, less stressful and less change-filled.

In the midst of all this change, we have one constant, and that is the fact that God does not change! In the midst of our crazy changing world - - - God doesn’t change. And that’s a great attribute of God’s. I can’t imagine if God were constantly changing and evolving. What kind of God would that be? I wouldn’t want that.

Today is the last Sunday that we’ll be looking at the attributes of God. We’ve talked about the fact that God is eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, God is love, and today, we’re looking at the fact that God is immutable. That’s the fancy, Latin word for saying God is never changing.

We’re going to look at some scripture and why this is important for us to understand and hold onto in our lives.

What does the Bible say about God’s immutability? Let’s look at the Bible --

19 “God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” - Numbers 23:19

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. - Psalm 90:2

6 For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Because God is a covenant-keeping God, we can count on Him to not consume us. - Malachi 3:6

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. - James 1:17

25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

27 You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. - Psalm 102:25

One metaphor that is used frequently in Scripture for the immutability of God is that He is our rock. Look at what David said about God in Psalm 18:1-2 —

1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:1-2

Later in the Psalm, David adds --

31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?

Isn’t that the image Prudential insurance company tried to portray? They called themselves the rock of Gibraltar, because the rock is strong and constant and wasn’t going to break down. That’s our view of God.

That’s such a powerful view from David. God is our rock, our stronghold, our fortress, our deliverer. We find protection from Him because He is our shield and the source of our salvation. I’m liking that!!

We change our plans all the time but God’s purposes never change. In Isaiah ---