Finding Joy in the Immutability of God

Futility. That is what every attempt at rebellion against God entails. Every railing of sin, every shaking of the fist in His face, results in the same thing: nothing. We serve an unchanging God, and nothing can diminish His perfections.

For I, the LORD, do not change. – Malachi 3:6

Thomas Brooks once said, “If it could be carried by votes, God would be voted out of the world; for the language of the carnal heart is, “Leave us alone! We have no desire to know Your ways!” (Job 21:14).”

We live in a society that attempts to determine its own truth and morality. Our culture votes in and enacts many laws that call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). Yet, truth and righteousness will never be established by popular vote—all of the world’s statutes that celebrate sin and punish good will never alter the word of God.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever. – Psalm 33:11

The doctrine of God’s immutability should do two things for the believer. First, it should leave us in awestruck wonder since it is so far beyond our full comprehension. The second thing it should do is comfort us. Just as no sin can diminish His perfections, neither can our excellencies increase them.

With this knowledge, all believers can let out a massive sigh of relief. We sometimes live as if the existence of God is up to us. We sometimes feel like we must be His protector. We are not God, and living like He is dependent upon us is exhausting. He has called us to find our rest in Him, not for Him to find His rest in us.

The best thing we can do is point people to the place where his excellencies are most clearly on display: the word of God. We often feel that we must be creative and develop something new and exciting for the Lord to be known, some new movement that gets the world excited. All the while, our attempts weary us and can never compare to the revelation He has given of Himself: scripture.

If you are in Christ Jesus, you are as secure as his unchanging nature. Just as his perfections can never be diminished, neither can the salvation he has provided to us. He alone is the rock of our salvation that will never be moved (Psalm 62:6). May we point others to Him through His word with a confidence that is not derived from our abilities but in His immutable splendor.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8

-D. Eaton