THE GOD WHO NEVER CHANGES

JAMES 1:12–18

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows

(James 1:17).

The great difference between God and us is that we are mutable and He is immutable. In other words, we change, but He does not. How do we change? We grow older, for one thing. Also, we have changing emotions and we must learn new skills to grow intellectually. But God does not change. He has no weaknesses or defects that demand improvement or lead to decay. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Is God immobile or inert?

One of the important trends in liberal theology these days is “process philosophy,” the idea that God is “in process.” This has to do with a criticism that is often leveled against the orthodox view of God, which is that if God is immutable and doesn’t change, He must be immobile. Critics claim that we cannot conceive of something as being active and alive apart from some kind of motion, and motion indicates change. So they contend that the only way God could be immutable is for Him to be inert.

Orthodox Christianity does not accept this, however. Immutability has to do with God’s character. It has to do with the constancy, consistency, and dependability of God. This immutable God is hardly inert. The God of Scripture is a God on the move. He is a God who goes before His people, a God who is dynamic because He is alive.

God’s love never wavers

In James 1:17 we read, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” No one relies on shadows to be consistent and stable. In fact, they have no substance at all. What James’s figure of speech portrays so well is that our God is just the opposite. There is no blemish in His character, nor does His love for His children waver. We base our lives on His immutability.

CORAM DEO

The immutability of God means that His promises are sure. In 2 Corinthians 1:20 Paul declares: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” As you pray today, cast yourself utterly upon God, your everlasting Father, rejoicing that His care for you never changes.

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