"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
From what I have been reading about changing social mores, where right is wrong and wrong is right; I'm beginning to wonder if we think that God has changed. Malachi 3:6 says that God has not changed. We often hear people say:“This is after all the Twenty-first Century.” But I am yet to hear anyone say that it would be alright if their husband or wife committed adultery because this is the Twenty First Century. I am yet to hear parents say that it is alright if their children lie to them or become chronic liars because this is the Twenty First Century. I could go on, but you get the idea. First, let's consider that God has not changed. He has not changed his mind about sin. Sin is still sin to Him. If it was sin in Bible days, it is sin today. We just need to be careful that we are not too selective about what we think sin is. We would do well to remember that all sin is still under God's judgment. He judged it in the Garden of Eden and still judges it today. He does not smile on it. Second, let's consider: "Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." While God has not changed in relation to sin, He also has not changed in relation to love, mercy and grace. It was because of God's unchanging grace that "Jacob" was not consumed. Consider these words from one of the most negative books in the Bible, Lamentations 3:22-23: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Jeremiah recognized that God's hatred of sin did not mean that He hated His people. Every time I read these words, a chill goes up my spine: "Thy (God's compassions) are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." God is faithful to be compassionate towards us. (Let's insert a "Hallelujah" here.) God's love and compassion are stated succinctly and profoundly in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." In spite of our sinfulness, God loves us. Romans 5:8 tells us that: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". This has not changed either. His death still atones for our sins. This does not mean that we have carte blanche to sin at will and that God does not care that we sin. He does care, but His love, mercy, and grace have been given to us in His Son so that we can be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 promises: "If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Yes, God still hates sin, but He still loves us. He loves you. That will not change, but He wants us to recognize our sins, confess them and be forgiven and changed by Him. He definitely does not want us to try to redefine sin, nor to excuse our sins, no matter how trite they may seem to us. Give praise to the unchanging God!!!! I don’t know of anyone who believes in Christ who believes that God has changed. In fact it would be devastating if God changed. He is, after all, all-knowing and all-powerful. He knows everything from before the Garden of Eden to the end of the ages. For one example, it would be devastating if God changed and decided that instead of dealing with us in grace, He would only deal with us in judgment. We would all end up in hell and heaven would be emptied, because no one could be saved if God changed his mind about grace. Thank God for His unchanging grace!!!! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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