Does God Change?

Does God Change?

     Have you ever had that thought? As humans, we're always subject to change. Life is constantly bringing new challenges. It brings different phases in our journey. It brings somewhat unexpected (and often unwanted) changes to our daily routines.  We're creatures of habit and many times we don't want to be uncomfortable. We like what we know and we know what we like. :)
     And then there's the whole idea of hopes, dreams and visions. What about those? What happens when you envisioned your life one way...... and it never happens. Or when something you never dreamed would happen suddenly turns your life upside down? What of all those hopes we have for the future? If we could look down through the portal of time, would our hopes change based on what we saw in our future, or would we lose hope altogether? After all, if we know what will happen we no longer have a reason to hope. The future and hope are directly linked. Read in Jeremiah (a man who prophesied future events): 
   

 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."    Jeremiah 29:11

"There is hope in your future, says the Lord...."    Jeremiah 31:17

      A key concept to remember as we look toward our future is to keep our eyes focused on Him and His promises. God does not promise us a life of ease. He does not promise to fulfill all our dreams. And yet when we choose to focus on ourselves, we begin to expect God to make life what we want. God never wanted us to put our hope in our dreams and desires for the future. But rather to put our hope in Him and His promises. Because whatever we may feel..... whatever we may desire.... whatever gives us purpose and fulfillment may all come crashing down one day if it's not rooted in Him.
     So does God change?  How do we know that we can trust Him... hope in Him? The answer to both questions is found in this answer: He never changes. 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."    Hebrews 13:8

     When we realize that He keeps His promises and He never changes this gives us Hope. Some will try to make distinctions between the Old Testament and the New Testament. And I agree that we are under a new covenant...... no longer must we work and try to earn our way to heaven. But does that mean that God no longer cares whether we follow His direction and inspiration that was spelled out in the Old Testament? I don't believe so. Jesus said: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." For when we focus on find God's heart, we will find Who He is in all pages of Scripture because He has been the same and will be the same for all time. Just a few examples: 

Love the Lord:

  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."    Deuteronomy 6:5

"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment."    Matthew 22:37-38

Love Your Neighbor:

"...you shall love your neighbor as yourself"   Leviticus 19:18

"Jesus said, .....'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'"   Matthew 19:19

".....and if there is any other commandment, all are summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'."   Romans 13:9

The Chastening of the Lord:

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."    Job 5:17

"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law,"    Psalms 94:12

"And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:     

              "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord       
               Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;       
               For whom the Lord loves He chastens,       
               And scourges every son whom He receives."

"If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."    Hebrews 12:5-8

 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." (Words of Jesus, speaking to the church.)   Revelation 3:19

The Beginning & End:

 "I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He."    Isaiah 41:4

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."    John 1:1-2

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."    Revelation 22:13

     Let us rest our heart in Who He is and what He promises to be for us and in us each and every day. Find His promises for your situation in life right now - put your hope in those promises and let Him fill you with hope.