Sermon by Pastor Nathan Johnson | May 4, 2025
In a world that seems to be constantly shifting beneath our feet, where institutions crumble, policies change overnight, and even the way we treat each other seems to be in flux, there’s a profound comfort to be found in the unchanging nature of God. This truth stands as an anchor in turbulent times, offering solace and stability to those who seek it.
The book of Malachi presents a powerful dialogue between God and His people. In this exchange, we see the Israelites accusing God of changing, of not loving them, even of being soft on crime. It’s a startling reminder of how easily we can misinterpret God’s actions (or perceived inactions) through our limited human perspective.
But God’s response is both reassuring and challenging: “I am the Lord, I do not change.” This declaration is not just a statement of fact; it’s a promise, a reminder, and a warning all rolled into one. It’s God setting the record straight with His people, much like a parent might need to do with a child who has forgotten their place.
This unchanging nature of God is multifaceted: His perfections do not change. Unlike us, who are constantly striving to improve or maintain our abilities, God is perfect in all His ways. There’s no gym where God goes to maintain His strength, no library where He studies to increase His knowledge. His goodness does not change. “God is good all the time” isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a fundamental truth about His character. In every situation, no matter how dire it may seem, God’s goodness remains constant. His power does not change. God’s omnipotence isn’t something that waxes and wanes. He doesn’t grow stronger or weaker; He is all-powerful, always. His knowledge does not change. God doesn’t learn new information or forget old facts. His omniscience is complete and constant. His wisdom does not change. God doesn’t just know everything; He knows how to apply that knowledge perfectly in every situation. His existence does not change. God is ageless, everlasting. He exists outside of time, not constrained by days, weeks, or years.
This unchanging nature of God provides immense comfort, but it also carries significant implications. God’s justice doesn’t change. In Malachi 3:5, we see a stern warning against those who oppress the vulnerable, cheat workers, and deny justice to foreigners. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God’s concern for justice and righteousness is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
God’s love doesn’t change either. Despite our fickleness, despite our tendency to question His love when things don’t go our way, God’s love remains constant. He has led us through wildernesses, provided for us in times of need, protected us from enemies, comforted us in our darkest hours, and looked beyond our faults to see our needs.
Perhaps most importantly, God’s intentions for us don’t change. He intends to refine us, to cleanse us, to remove the “dross” from our lives – those impurities that cling to us and hold us back from being all that He intends us to be. This refining process isn’t always comfortable. Like gold in a furnace, we often need to go through “fiery” situations for the impurities in our lives to be released.
There’s a beautiful analogy of a silversmith watching his silver in the fire. He knows it’s ready to be removed when he can see his own reflection in the molten metal. In the same way, God often keeps us in challenging situations until He can see His reflection in our lives.
This unchanging God is described in Scripture in myriad ways, each highlighting a different aspect of His character:
- To the artist, He’s the altogether lovely one
- To the architect, the chief cornerstone
- To the astronomer, the sun of righteousness
- To the baker, the bread of life
- To the doctor, the great physician
- To the electrician, the light of the world
- To the florist, the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley
- To the geologist, the rock of ages
- To the lawyer, the counselor and lawgiver
- To the sinner, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world
In our personal lives, He can be our way out of nowhere, our bridge over troubled waters, our guiding light when we’re lost and weary.
The hymn “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand” captures this truth beautifully:
“Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
However, it’s crucial to understand that while God’s unchanging nature is a comfort to those who have a relationship with Him, it can be a sobering reality for those who don’t. God offers every person the choice between life and death, blessings and curses. His offer of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ remains constant, but so does the consequence of rejecting this offer.
No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, no matter how much “Jacob-ness” (deceit, selfishness, manipulation) still clings to us, God invites us to come just as we are. He is ready and willing to transform us, step by step, into all He intends for us to be.
In a world of swift transitions, where change is the only constant, the unchanging nature of God offers us an unshakeable foundation. It challenges us to align our lives with His unchanging truth, to build our hopes on things eternal, and to hold fast to His unchanging hand. As we do so, we find not just comfort, but purpose, direction, and the transformative power to become all that He has created us to be.