Immutable

Several weeks ago, Scott and I had an older couple from our church, the Reeses, over for supper.  We didn’t know them very well, but our church was encouraging families to use Wednesday nights during the month of July as a time of fellowship with other members.  As they sat across the table from us, wisdom flowed melodiously from both their lips, and before we knew it, three hours had passed us by.  Our time with them was sanctifying.  Purely delightful.

There’s something about time spent with the aged, refined saints that is so good to my soul.  Don’t get me wrong: we enjoy time with our young and restless brothers and sisters, too, but on more than one occasion, we’ve walked away from friends like the Reeses with our heads spinning and our hearts [prayerfully] repenting.  It’s a good place to be. 

One of the facets of God’s character that we discussed that night over dinner was the immutability of God.  To be immutable, in it’s plainest definition, is to never differ from yourself---to be changeless.  For God to be immutable means that nothing phases Him.  Nothing stirs Him up or lets Him down.  He isn’t a kind, loving God one day and a hard, maddened God the next.  He is unchangeable.  Forever and ever, amen.  

Probably the best way to see the beauty of this jewel of immutability is to view it against the dark mutability of ourselves.  I, for one, am in constant flux.  My heart is sensitive and mindful one day and unconscious the next.  But what a heart-wrenching, soul-stirring, satisfying truth to know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever---regardless of our fluctuation.  Good day/bad day theology is easy to fall prey to.  On days that I do my quiet time, take supper to a sick church member, or stay calm when my neighbors’ dogs bark all night long, God favors me and delights in me.  But on days when I don’t get around to reading my bible, or speak unkindly to my spouse, or lay on the horn when a car pulls in front of me, God waves His finger at me in disgust.  This is not the God of the bible and certainly not the God who sent a Redeemer to bear His wrath for you and for me. 

Listen to what A.W. Tozer said in his book The Knowledge of the Holy about the changeless, immutable God:

“In this world where men forget us, change their attitude toward us as their private interests dictate, and revise their opinion of us for the slightest cause, is it not a source of wondrous strength to know that the God with whom we have changes not?  That His attitude toward us now is the same as it was in eternity past and will be in eternity to come?

What peace it brings to the Christian’s heart to realize that our Heavenly Father never differs from Himself.  In coming to Him at any time we need not wonder whether we shall find Him in a receptive mood.  He is always receptive to misery and need, as well as to love and faith.  He does not keep office hours nor set aside periods when He will see no one.  Neither does He change His mind about anything.  Today, this moment, He feels toward His creatures, toward babies, toward the sick, the fallen, the sinful, exactly as He did when He sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for mankind.”       

What a sweet thought to dwell on!  Praise God that His love is constant and steadfast, not depending on our stability, but depending on the stability of the Cross.  What a firm foundation we have in Christ.