It’s tempting to think that someone who never changes is plain old boring. Doesn’t the idea of someone who’s always the same seem like a bit of a yawn?
But that’s because God and us – we’re not the same. Though we’re made in God’s image, we’re broken images – because of our sin. Until we’re in heaven we’ll only be poor reflections of Him. God’s perfect; we’re imperfect. God’s holy; we’re unholy. God always loves; we always fail to love. God’s always good, always merciful, always faithful, always true, always gracious, always forgiving, always patient, always pure… we could go on for a long time! But us – at best, if you replace the word ‘always’ with ‘sometimes’, you’d have a more accurate description. We always fall short. We’re broken images – we’re not the same.
That’s why we’re tempted to think that someone who never changes is boring. In fact, for us to never change is far worse than boring – it’s downright unfaithful. It’s blatant disobedience. A person who never changes is a hardened sinner. We should always be trying hard to change – to grow more and more like Christ. Someone who’s always the same isn’t following Jesus.
God’s not the same as us though – He’s already perfect, and He always will be: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He doesn’t have any ‘grey spots’ in His life to work on or grow in – He’s the very definition of glory already. Despite our unfaithfulness, He’s always faithful. And isn’t that what we long for more than anything or anyone in this life – someone who’s always faithful, and always loving? Isn’t that exactly what we need?
That’s why I love the song “Yesterday, Today and Forever”. It’s a wonderful celebration of the same-ness of God:
Everlasting God
The years go by but you’re unchanging
In this fragile world
You are the only firm foundationAlways loving, always true
Always merciful and good, so goodYesterday today and forever
You are the same, and you never change
Yesterday today and forever
You are faithful and we will trust in You
As we start to sing this song together as a Church family, I hope you’ll keep all of the above in mind: that you’ll delight in our ever-faithful God, despite our ever-unfaithfulness. And just to keep you going, why not have a listen to Amanda Kemsley singing it for us:
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