Immutable - Unchanging

Intro

Things that have changed since I was in MS.

The fashion was bootcut light wash jeans, hoodies, and platform sandles for the girls and cargo pants and graphic tees, maybe layered shirts for the guys.

The iPhone was not invented.

YouTube just came onto the scene.

The Marvel universe was limited to the comics and not the movies.

Trump was only known for being rich, Home Alone 2, and for his new show “The Apprentance”

And people was moving by storm from MySpace to the new social media platform “Facebook”

God does not change - Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1:10–12 ESV

And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

When planning the topics for this series, it became quickly apparent that I was going to have to leave out some of God’s attributes. So I tried picking some of the ones that I thought were either most important, or ones that I had a vague or even incorrect view of when I was in Middle School. But this week’s attribute, I picked for a different reason. This week we are looking at how God does not change.

Why? Think of music. My dad had a record player, but by the time I could really understand what was going on, we mainly listened to cassette tapes. But then, I remember buying my first CD and having a CD player. For Christmas one year I got a 5 disc CD player. But that changed when a cool thing came our called the iPod. It was a while before I got mine, but you could go to iTunes and buy songs or albums and download them to your iPod. Now our phones have iTunes, Spotify, you name it. And I will be interested to see what comes next. That is just in my life time.

Think if God changed as much as music listening devises. Think if as a kid, God was Just, but not loving. And in Middle school He was all knowing, but wasn’t all powerful, and in high school He was all wise, but not everywhere at once. And think if in college He loving, but wasn’t all wise. And now He was Holy, but He wasn’t just. Then why do this series? Why learn about who God is, if who He is changes.

I have the life long joy of learning who Faith is. Not because she is infinite like God, and it would take a lifetime to get to know her. But because she changes. And that is a good thing. But that doesn’t apply to God. Because if God is perfect, then He changes, He would no longer be perfect. He wouldn’t be trustworthy, because He changes. Etc.

Go through the different attributes, and say He does not change.

In our eyes, it might seem like He changes, but it our knowledge of Him that changes. Or our circumstances change, therefore we see Him in a different way. But He does not change.

What does that mean for us?

1. Our circumstances might change, but God won’t.

Example of moving from California. Albania. It doesn’t matter if your best friend moves away, if you have to change schools. If you are now in Middle School or soon you will be in High School, you move away, no matter what changes in your life, God won’t. Hebrews 13:8

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

He is dependable. House built on the rock.

We can depend on His promises.

2. Our circumstances might change, but our salvation won’t. Romans 8:35-39

Romans 8:35–39 (ESV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

God does not change. He will always be good, always be loving, always be just, always be God. And we can rest in that.

Let’s pray.

Questions:

What is the biggest change you have experienced?

Since our standing with others change all the time, is it hard to believe that it doesn’t change with God?

What are some promises of God or attributes of God that you are thankful do not change?

How does the fact that God does not change impact your relationships with others?