Thanks be to the Unchanging God, Our Eternal Rock

 By Patricia Newman

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17

 

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.

Psalm 33:11

 

"For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,"

Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

Isaiah 54:10

 

For I am the LORD, I do not change.

Malachi 3:6

For many months now, I have been studying the attributes or the perfections of God with some beloved "Berean" praying women. It is clear from Scripture that God wants us to know Him. How wonderful it is that God created us to love, serve, worship and glorify Him. It all begins with a measure of the knowledge of who God is. In Jeremiah 9:23-26 we read:

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight," says the LORD.

The one who has a revelation of God will boast or glory only in Him. Not in our wisdom, our strength, our looks, our wealth or anything at all concerning us. We will boast in the infinite greatness and majesty of the One Who made us for His glory and from Whom every good gift comes. The true knowledge of God compels us to awe, to faith, to whole-hearted love and service to Him.

 

Reborn to worship You
What joy it is to serve

And only glorify

Jesus Christ!

In the book of Daniel, we read:
 

But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Daniel 11:32

 
Paul, the apostle, passionately desired to know the Son of God more and more, as shown in these compelling verses:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

Philippians 3:7-8

 

To Paul, nothing could compare to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The things that mattered so much to him and dominated his life before he encountered the Son of God on the Damascus Road were now worthless in comparison.

Beloved, what blessing it is to know God, and to do so more and more! We are commanded to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God - 2 Peter 3:18. It is through God's gracious revelation of Himself in the Bible that we learn of His infinite perfections. The living God reveals to us, in His word, many glorious atrributes. These profit the one who pursues the knowledge of God. When we have understanding of the infinite holiness of God, we can have understanding of the true horror of sin and the necessity of the cross of Christ. When we understand the high cost of our salvation, we can better understand the love of God and the necessity of holiness of life in the children of God. 

 

One of the attributes of God that we have recently been studying is the immutability, or unchangeability, of God. This, as with all attributes of God, brings divine blessings to the Christian. God says of Himself the following:

I am the LORD, I do not change.

Malachi 3:6

James, the apostle, describes God as the Giver of every good and perfect gift and the One "with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

 

2020 has been a year of unsettling, of upheaval and of uncertainty and sorrow for many people. The coronavirus, which the Sovereign God has allowed, has indeed shaken many people. Many lives have been lost due to the virus and there is much fear and trepidation. Death and disease are an inherent part of our fallen world. For all man's confidence and trust in scientists, in government or in human ingenuity, men are but men. As a Christian, I mourn the loss of life. I pray continually for God's mercy upon the nations of the world. I pray that many people will indeed humble themselves before the Almighty Creator in repentance and faith. 

 

The truth that God is unchanging has been an immense anchor to me this difficult year. In all the changes, restrictions, social distancings, face-coverings, the illnesses and death, and in  personal trials, God remains the same. That is huge comfort to me. His faithfulness is unchanging. Hallelujah! The sovereign and utterly dependable God is the Refuge and the eternal Rock of all who trust in Him. Our Lord Jesus is the same yesterday and today and for ever - Hebrews 13:8. Christ remains the only Saviour of the world, calling men, women, boys and girls to repentance and faith in Him. In all the changes and inconstancies around us, God is the Anchor and Harbour of our souls. O that very many will come to Him and know His rest!

I thank God that in a changing, wavering world, He does not change.

I thank God for His unchanging word, forever settled in heaven.

I thank God for the powerful gospel that continues to be preached by faithful ministers to a world in desperate need of salvation.

I thank God that He remains the Sovereign Ruler of the world Who will bring sin and death to an end.

I thank God for every soul that He, in His great mercy, has brought to faith in Christ.

I thank God for His mercy and grace upon His Church.

I thank God for the love, fellowship and prayers of precious brethren in Christ.

I thank God for His loving-kindness and mercy upon me and my family.

I thank God for all His grace.

I thank God for His merciful preservation this year.

I thank God for the the joy of faith and the joy of family

I thank God for the Unspeakable Gift of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

In the coming year, I pray that very many souls will be turned from sin and despair to the Blessed Hope, from idols to the true and living God.

In the coming year, I pray that the Church will be salt and light, boldly and compassionately but uncompromisingly declaring the truths of God's word to the perishing and leading sinners to Christ.

I pray that young people everywhere will be taught the life-changing truths of God's word that they might set their hope in God.

I pray that the Lord God will bring many of our unsaved family members out of vanity and blindness and into the Truth and Light that is Christ.

 

I pray, Lord, for grace upon grace that I may be more diligent and fruitful in my service to Christ, my exceeding Joy;

Grace that I might know Your guidance and counsel continually by Your word, by Your Spirit and through prayer;

Grace that I might be sanctified more and more;

Grace that I might have a singular eye in all things to God's glory;

Grace that I might abide in You continually, abounding in every circumstance and adorning the glorious doctrine of Christ in greater holiness of life.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

 

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:5b-6