The immutability of God.

On Wednesday, temperatures of 50 C, and people in danger of death through dehydration. Today: thunder, lightning, torrential rain, and hailstones - and all of that in the space of less than fifteen minutes (the storm, itself, lasted for more than an hour!).

Regardless of climate change, global warming, or any other fad or buzz-word to which we are regularly exposed, there can be no doubt that the weather can be very changeable. One of the regular 'jokes' about Scotland (and other areas!) is that it has four seasons - every day!

Of course, life itself is filled with change. People grow - and the "I" in a photograph of me at about seven years of age, is very different, physically, from the "I" who is typing this post. I am also different in terms of the knowledge and understanding that I have gained during those intervening decades (both of them - if you are one of my former LHS pupils! But don't forget the "few months"!). I have changed my place of residence more often than I care to recall; I have changed from being a single young man to being a husband, a father, and now a grandfather. I have experienced change in terms of taste - in music; in food; in reading material; etc.

All of that, and more, was going through my head as my wife and I sat in the car, outside the shop we planned to enter, waiting for the rain to ease off sufficiently, and the hailstones to stop playing drum-rolls on the roof of the car! Then I thought of the unchanging One!

The fancy, theological word for the associated doctrine (teaching*) is "the immutability of God". What that means, simply, is that He is unchanging in His love; in His character; in His will; in His purposes. Louis Berkhof, in his classic volume of Systematic Theology, defines the immutability of God as "... that perfection of God be which He is devoid of all change, not only in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises." (p.58). Q.4 in the Westminster Shorter Catechism ask "What is God?", and supplies the answer: "God is [a] Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His Being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."

These 'credal' statements are, of course, fully backed up by the written Word of God. To give just a few of the Scripture references, we read in the book of the prophet Malachi: "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." (Mal 3:6; emphasis added). James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus, wrote: "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment 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 1:16-17; emphasis added). In perhaps the best-known reference to the unchangeability of God, in the Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on The Trinity, in "Great Words") of the Son, the writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus states clearly that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever." (Heb 13:8; emphasis added).

So, is this doctrine nothing more than academic pretentiousness, or esoteric grandiloquence? (tongue in cheek, there!). Is there any comfort, or encouragement for the true child of God? There most certainly is! The concept is taught, not simply as belonging to the nature of God in Himself, but as being in the closest connection with His covenant relation to His people, so that the 'religious' value of God's unchangeableness is most clearly implied in this fundamental assertion of the attribute. He is YHWH - the "I AM THAT I AM" - and that very Name, the Covenant name, indicates His immutability. If He ever "was", then He might now be different to what He was before! If he was ever to be, then what confidence could we have that He is not yet all that He might be? However, He Is - eternally; and in that assurance we may take comfort.

As I finish typing this post, the sun is again breaking through the clouds. There, too, is a lesson. Sometimes we may feel so far away from Father God. The clouds of sin get in the way. But He is still there - just as the sun was still there even in the midst of the thunder-storm. And our God, Who created the sun, and all that exists, is far greater, and more dependable, than is it.

The immutability of God. A wondrous doctrine that may be an encouragement to all who call upon the Name of the Lord. May we do so - for our own good; for the blessing of others; and for His eternal glory.

*see my book "Defending the Faith". Details above. Remember, I receive no financial benefit from the sale of any of my books, paperback or e-book. ALL royalties are now paid directly into the bank account of Release International, in support of the persecuted church.

Weather forecast.

It's been an unusually 'harsh' winter here in S.W.France. 'Harsh', of course, is a relative word and, compared to what Scotland, and other parts of the UK have been experiencing, we have had it very easy! 

Today, however, has been probably the most interesting one this year. It was a beautiful day until about 1730 (that's 5.30 p.m. for those who don't use the "24 hour clock"!) and we were preparing to leave to do some shopping on our way to the rehearsal for the church worship group. Just as we were getting ready, there was a series of peals of thunder, one rolling straight into the next. Then came the first few big splats of rain. I suggested to my wife that it might be wise to take coats but, in just the minute or so that we needed to get them, those splats of rain had become hailstones - falling more thickly and heavily than I can ever recall having experienced before. The hail shower was so heavy that we waited until it had calmed down before heading out to the car.

Then, about four miles closer to Bergerac, even the rain stopped; the clouds cleared; the sun shone brilliantly; and there was a magnificent, and full, rainbow arching across the sky - a blaze of colour that was quite magnificent.

Just a couple of hours later, on our way back home, we were treated to an amazing display of lightning - both sheet and forked - that made the night sky appear like noontide. then came that rain and, by the time we had reached our home, it was falling so heavily that we decided to leave the shopping in the car, and just get into the house as quickly as possible. Yet, some twenty minutes' later, I was out clearing the car of our purchases.

That was about ninety minutes ago, and already, there are renewed flashes of lightning, and peals of thunder. The day isn't yet over!

I suppose that that is the weather for you! Forever changing. I found myself thinking of the words of the anonymous writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (13:8). He is the One on Whom I may depend in every situation, and every circumstance. This is something that is experienced, on a daily basis, by those in what we refer to as 'the persecuted church'.For example, more than 100 disciples of Jesus have been killed in Egypt, alone, in the past year. Bombs have been detonated in church buildings; a bus travelling to a mionastery was attacked and, in the north, Daesh (IS) terrorists stormed into homes, and shot disciples of Jesus on the spot. 

Sat7 (www.sat7uk.org) tells of one woman named Nahla. Both of her daughters were killed when Daesh bombed their church building. She was recently interviewed by the TV station. Wearing a locket containing photographs of her daughters, she said: "Of course there's pain and sadness and aching. That won't go away for the rest of my life. But God will strengthen you. Take refuge in the Lord."

Nahla can only have that confidence, even in her personal tragedy, because of the unchanging nature of Almighty God, revealed most fully in the Son, Jesus.

I wonder on what, or in whom, you are placing your confidence as you read this post! Everything else will let you down. Possessions can be lost; relationships can break down; health is not guaranteed. Even if we could hold on to all of these, they only last for a time. I don't know who first made the comment that 100% of people die but, until the rapture of the church, it is unarguably true. We may postpone death; some may go to great expense having their dead bodies frozen (cryogenics) so that they may be 'unfrozen' whenever a cure for the illness/disease that killed them is found - somehow failing to understand that such a cure will be of no use to them as thay are already dead!

Jesus, is for time - and for eternity. He is the only One Who can travel with me through that experience of physical death. He is the only One Who can assure me of life that is not just 'everlasting', but that is of a quality that I cannot even begin to imagine in this life, because it is the life of Almighty God Himself.

I have walked with Him for more years, now, than I care to remember - and He has never let me down (although, sadly, I cannot say that I have never let Him down.). He is my Saviour, my Lord, my King, and my Friend. 

I commend Him to you.

The storm is past.

Although the Dordogne area in France is one of the country's most beautiful, it does have its share of inclement weather conditions - especially from December to February. This includes some fairly violent storm conditions. When we returned from the UK last month, it was to find that the TV aerial had been blown down - taking with it the capping on the chimney, to which it had been attached! Thankfully, the period of the worst storms is now over!

I was reminded of the story of a man who was standing at the rail of a small ship, far out to sea. He was filled with anxiety as he watched a mass of billowing clouds, illumined by flashes of forked lightning. As he watched, the captain happened to pass by. Noticing the troubled expression on the face of his passenger, and the black sky in the distance, he quickly offered some words of assurance. "I hope that you aren't concerned about that storm." he said. "If you are, then you can relax and forget your worries. You see, that storm is already past, and cannot do us any harm."

That may lead us to think of yet another "storm" that is past. I refer to the time when the wrath of Almighty God was poured out in all of its fury, at Calvary. What an awesome, and terrifying, sight that must have been! The Lord Jesus, although Himself perfect and sinless, assumed our guilt and shame, and bore the dreadful penalty that you and I deserved. As He hung on a wooden cross - between earth and sky - the sun was darkened, and rocks were rent asunder. The tempest of God's judgement had broken out upon the beloved Son! Even now, as the old negro spiritual reminds us, contemplation of that dreadful hour causes us to tremble. Yet, as frightening as that spectacle must have been, we may be at peace - because that "storm" is past! In fact, it has provided a way of deliverance from eternal condemnation, and damnation, for all who, in repentance and faith, receive the Son as Saviour, and Lord, and King. For all such, there is the blessing of the grace of God, shown in Jesus, the Christ. I owed a debt I could not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe. 

However, the sinner who has not yet received the Lord Jesus as his personal Saviour still has reason to fear! You see, a day is coming - and it may be sooner than many would wish to believe - when the ominous clouds of God's judgement will finally burst upon an unbelieving world. Only those who have taken refuge in Him are secure. For us, the storm is past! Hallelujah!

May all who read this post find their salvation in Him - "... the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith." (Heb.12:2).

Praying like Elijah.

In his book, Miracles in Black, Dr John Wengatz tells of an African convert to Jesus who was left at a new mission station to carry on the Lord's work - among a tribe that still practised cannibalism!

It was the dry season when Joao Mbaxi took over but, soon, the tropical rains would be coming. However, month after month went by without as much as a cloud appearing in the sky. Then came the return of the normal dry period. By this time, everyone was suffering from the shortage of water, and many were on the brink of starvation. In all the years that the tribe had worshipped their ancient gods, the rains had never failed; so Joao was told that he must leave the country - and take "the white man's God" with him!

The courageous disciple refused to go. Then, flushed with anger, the tribal chief warned him: "If your God is as good as you say, and so powerful that He rules the sky, why doesn't He send us the needed showers? If it doesn't rain by sunrise tomorrow, we will drink your blood and eat your flesh!"

Recalling the Biblical account of Elijah (see I Kings 17 and 18; James 5:17-18), Joao went to his hut and prayed for divine help with the same kind of urgency as that of the prophet. Meanwhile, members of the tribe waited for the dawn, when this disciple of Jesus would become the victim of their nauseating practice.

Just before daylight, thunder was heard in the distance, lightning flashed across the sky, and an abundant downpour of rain refreshed the entire region! As a result, Joao was able to continue his work, and witness, for Jesus.

Elijah's God still lives! Let us, therefore, face our moments of crisis with faith instead of fear. Those who pray like the prophet of old will find the Lord pouring out His blessings with the same plenteous supply. Of course, that does not mean that we always receive what we ask for! Almighty God always answers our prayers - but not always in the manner that we want, or expect. However, as we walk more closely to Him, we will be more and more in tune with His will and purpose - and will experience more positive answers to our prayers.

James writes that "Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves ... and he prayed fervently ..."(5:17). Perhaps part of our problem is that we don't pray with that same urgency with which Elijah, and Joao Mbaxi, prayed!