Change is an inevitable part of life. Our bodies change with age. Our families change with birth and death. Our opinions and desires change over time. The world around us is constantly changing. I was probably the last generation to grow up with corded landline phones in the house. People in their late forties were a part of the last generation to grow up with rotary phones. Technological advancements are frequent in today’s world. All these changes can be a little overwhelming and even frightening. But there is One who never changes. God doesn’t change. We call this immutability.

 

Scripture teaches that God is immutable. We see this truth in the book of Malachi. Malachi is the last of what we call the Minor Prophets. His book is the last in the Old Testament. After his prophecy, God would be silent for four hundred years! Malachi, like many of the prophets, rebuked the people of Israel for their immoral behavior. He also warned the people about the coming of the Lord. God would come down to cleanse His people and judge those who refused to repent. Then Malachi 3:6 says, “For I LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” God called His people to return to Him so He could bless them. God made a promise to His people to be with them forever. God never changes His promises because God does not change.

 

We also see this attribute in James 1:17. James writes, “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.” All good things come from God. Thankfully, God is not shifting or varying. He doesn’t decide to love us one day and then change His mind the next. God faithfully loves us without variation.

 

Psalm 102:25-27 says, “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” Although everything in this world will wear out and pass away, God remains the same. Because God is absolutely perfect, He cannot decay or improve. One day, God will remake this world and change it like a robe, but He will remain the same forever.

 

Why is this important? We can trust our unchanging God. Because God doesn’t change, His Word doesn’t change. This means that He always keeps His promises. When He says we are forgiven, it’s a done deal. When He tells us that He loves us, He means it. He doesn’t take back His Word or forget His promises. God’s character doesn’t change. He is always holy, just, and good. We’ve all been betrayed by a friend or relative. Betrayal of trust is a bitter sting, but God will never betray us. He never stops being perfectly good.

 

Even as Christians, we fail on a regular basis, but God’s goodness and love for us never changes. This should comfort us because we don’t have to earn His favor. We don’t have to make up for our failures because God’s love for His children doesn’t vary. But for unbelievers, God’s unchanging character is an equally important warning. God is perfectly holy. He will not bend His rules to excuse your sin or allow you into heaven. By His grace, He has provided a way of salvation in His Son Jesus Christ. But Jesus is the only way. God will not accept your good works or genuine faith in another avenue. Only faith in Jesus Christ alone receives God’s grace. You can’t change the unchanging God, so submit to His will.