Our Great God – Brilliant and Unchanging

What can give you stability and what can provide growth in your life of faith today and in this new year? Being occupied with the greatness and glory of God! Nothing can give us more peace and true fulfillment than the realization and awareness of how unique, incomparable and wonderful He is - and this is also true in regard to God's immutability.

We live in a time when everything is changing: Society, nature, governments, climate, economy, art, music, opinions, moral values, our lifestyle through technological innovation and many other things. People you haven't met for a while have changed when you suddenly meet them again. At some point, we discover gray hair on our heads. The human body changes day by day, minute by minute. How many changes did Methuselah see who at the age of 969 became the oldest person who ever lived - changes in himself and in those around him?!

Paul writes in the Epistle to the Romans that this creation is subject to nothingness or transience (see Rom 8:20). And this is also true for creatures. The psalmist says, “Thou takest away their breath: they expire, and return to their dust” (Ps 104:29).

But while we change and everything around us changes, there is One who always remains the same: The living God - the Rock of ages! Unlike us, He is unchanging. Psalm 102 says: “Of old hast thou founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou continuest; and all of them shall grow old as a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the Same, and thy years shall have no end.” (Ps 102:26-28)

On the one hand, it is said that God abides - that means He is eternal. And on the other hand, it is said that He is the same - i.e. He is unchanging. God founded the earth and He will destroy it again. He changes things, but He Himself does not change. Both the beginning and the end of the first creation are certain. Therefore, how foolish is it for us to attach our hearts to something that is transient and will soon be no more. “The world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity.” (1 John 2:17).

God is perfect and brilliant. Because of this, He cannot change for the better! Change is always either for the good or for the bad. But this is impossible with God - because He is perfect. He does not need to evolve or progress. The immutability of God is one of His glories and characteristics. Change would make Him imperfect - and this is totally impossible!

What He is today, in His nature, attributes and moral qualities, He has always been and will always be!

J.P.S.