Change
and
no change
The theme of
this pastoral letter (as you might guess) is
prompted by the fact that, for the third time in
less than six years, we are meeting in a
different venue for our church services. We have
been subject to a further change, though in each
case meeting in essentially the same area, for
which we are thankful.
Changes in
life should always prompt thought and
reflection. It is stating the obvious
to say that we are surrounded by change. We are
aware of it all the time. We ourselves change –
growing older; moving home; having additions to
or, by way of bereavement, subtractions from our
beloved family circle; changing jobs, or
retiring from work; experiencing ups and downs
in health; and so on. None of us is immune, nor
can we expect to be. And as well as such things
as these, everything else seems to change – the
weather, the moral state of the nation (sadly,
from bad to worse), the peace of the world, the
financial markets, the condition of ‘the
church’, scientific and medical ‘advances’, and
on the list goes.
Putting all of this together (along with much
else which we have not said), the hearts of the
true people of God could easily begin to fear.
Let them not do so! Why not? Because, first and
foremost, of this most fundamental and glorious
truth: God
does not change! He cannot
change. It is impossible for him to change. Why?
Because he is God. Scripture insists upon the
changelessness of God. It is the truth of his
‘immutability’. He is the eternal God: ‘from
everlasting to everlasting you are God’ (Psalm
90:2). The ‘God of the covenant, Triune Jehovah’
declares of himself, ‘For I the LORD do not
change’ (Malachi 3:6). The Lord ‘Jesus Christ is
the same yesterday and today and forever’
(Hebrews 13:8). The third person of the Trinity
is ‘the eternal Spirit’ (Hebrews 9:14). This God
is our faithful, unchanging, immoveable rock. He
is our Maker, Sustainer, Redeemer, Sanctifier,
and our ‘portion forever’ (Psalm 73:26). What
supreme comfort and joy is to be found in this
truth. ‘The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms’
(Deuteronomy 33:27).
And there is more. The
Bible never changes. It is ‘the word of
our God (which) will stand for ever’ (Isaiah
40:8). It is never to be altered. It never goes
out of fashion. The
glorious gospel of God’s grace never changes.
It is the ‘eternal gospel’ (Revelation
14:6). It never changes either. God continues to
invite helpless, needy and unworthy sinners to
himself. The gospel offer is as wide and as free
as ever. Wonderfully, ‘the blood of Jesus
(God’s) Son cleanses us from all sin’ (1 John
1:7) – and the force of that verb means ‘goes on
cleansing’.
God’s purposes
and promises never change. He has
established his purposes from before the
creation of the world, ‘saying, ‘My counsel
shall stand, and I will accomplish all my
purpose’’ (Isaiah 46:10). We may rely on all
that God is doing. He cannot be taken by
surprise. He is wise in all that he does
(including, not least, with his people). We may
live our lives in humble confidence in him,
‘standing on the promises of God’. He does all
things well – and will be seen to have done so,
at the end of all days.
So let us not be fearful. May we be kept from
ever-lurking foes such as unbelief, distrust,
cowardice, lethargy or pessimism. Let us learn
(through grace) to ‘praise him for all that is
past, and trust him for all that’s to come’. We
are not on our own. He does not leave us to
ourselves. True - these are days of exceedingly
small things. Fear not! ‘Our God is in the
heavens; he does all that he pleases’ (Psalm
115:3).
