Every day brings changes. Yesterday the governing body and the U.S. president changed. In many places the weather changed. Thousands moved from one house to another. Women changed the color of their hair. Nearly everyone changed their mind about something. Change is as certain as death and taxes.
Nelson Mandela once said, “One of the things I learnt when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.” This is true of humans; we all need to change. But it is not true of God for He is perfect therefore changeless. How could I trust or worship a god who was different every day!
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” (Hebrews 1:10–12)
In this verse, CHANGE means to be or become different; undergo a transformation. The author may have been thinking about an OT prophet’s words that declare why God’s people rejoice that God never changes: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)
This word for change is about undergoing a change or becoming different in nature, losing one’s original essence. Imagine the confusion if Almighty God was whimsical, continually different in thoughts and motivations. Could I rely on a supreme being that was totally unpredictable? Who promised to save me and the next day changed His mind?
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. (Numbers 23:19–20)
“The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind . . . .” (Psalm 110:4)
The Lord God does not change but He does make change happen. Daniel uses a word that describes His ability to make things different, to transform:
Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding . . . .” (Daniel 2:20–21)
The psalmist repeats that idea in praise: “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:25–27)
The NT says the same thing with reassurance that God does not change His plan; I can trust Him to be the Giver of what is exactly good for me: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.“ (James 1:17)
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” I can trust God to be always sovereign, act always in wisdom, always be gracious and want the best for me, always love with His everlasting love, and always keep His promises. (Hebrews 13:8) Life and experiences are in constant flux yet God is a sure and certain anchor, a safe refuge and hiding place, a reliable God who keeps His promises. For me, this is assurance and peace.
Can I be like that? Not in this life. God is busy working all things together to transform me into the image of His Son, to renew my mind, to bring out the life of Christ that He has put in. Change is vital and inevitable for those who love Him — and that love is made possible because He is perfection and does not change.
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