The only thing certain about life is change. I cannot find the quote, but whoever first said it realized an important truth. Nothing stays the same and for a person who tends to be pessimistic and dwells on the negative, inconsistency can easily ruin my happiness.
For instance, I could be happy that I am healthy, but occasionally my bones ache. I could be happy that my family loves me, but then remember the rough spots. I could be happy that my life is comfortable, but I know that the comforts of life are fleeting. Besides, I remember those days of being very poor and the difficulties that went with them. I could also be happy about my talents, but there are flub-ups and failures too. Also, as I age, those abilities will lose their power.
Pinning my sense of well-being and joy on almost anything brings with it negatives that can creep in or crash in, robbing me of the pleasures those things give. But one thing never changes. In Malachi 3:6, God says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change.”
James 1:17 puts it this way, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
God does not change. He always was and always is. His nature is constant. He does not grow or diminish, nor does He vacillate. My human mind cannot grasp that kind of consistency, yet by faith I know it is true. Everything else changes, decays, comes and goes, but God is always God.
The Bible also says the same of Jesus Christ. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). This affirms His deity and gives me more reasons to trust Him. He is my permanent and reliable reason to be happy. There are no negatives in Him. He is perfect, a perfect friend who loves me without any hesitation or conditions. There are no flaws or bumps in His care. His grace and strength are perfect, consistent and always available.
Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) and I can say YES, because the one thing I am certain about Him is that He never changes.
When I think about Jesus Christ, every part of me must smile and nothing about Him that ruins my happiness. That kind of delight is beyond the normal idea of happy and worthy of being called that simple and deeper word — joy, pure joy.
2 comments:
Hebr. 13:8 was the verse we received from our pastor when hubby and I got married - nearly 44 yrs. ago! Totally agree with your post! One of my favorite comments for years has been that the only certain thing in life is that there will be change - but yesterday, today and forever Jesus is the same!
Amen!
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