Living with Tozer's God

Blogpost #21

Chapter 9: The Immutability of God

 'The Only Real Anchor in Life'

We live in a world where literally nothing stays the same. No matter where you look, the only thing you can be sure of is that things will change. Sometimes they change for the better, sometimes for the worse. Sometimes change comes quickly, sometimes agonizingly slowly. But, you can be sure that things will eventually change.

The word "immutable" has as its root a word we're probably familiar with. In our bio-tech world we often hear the word "mutate." When you hear the word in the medical world, it's usually not a good sign. We hear of a virus mutating or a gene mutating; the result often leads to a sad outcome...or worse.

But, change is not always for the worse. When it's winter, things change and spring comes. When the seasons change, gratefully so do many of the fashions. When the stock market goes down, it usually comes back up (eventually...of course, the opposite is usually true as well!). The good times don't last, but neither do the bad times...at least for most folks.

For many though, life is a tiresome merry-go-round...and they would really like to know how to get off, at least for a while. They want a stable foundation, something that simply won't move. Something they can count on. Something that won't change, period. There is only one place to find that anchor: GOD.

The Bible declares unequivocally, "For I, the LORD, do not change..." (Mal 3:5). Why?

The answer is simple. Perfection and change are mutually exclusive. You can't improve on perfection! We know nothing of perfection in this world. We know great beauty, awesome grandeur, astounding technology, but none of it is perfect. As wonderful as it is, it can always be improved. No human effort, especially the efforts of sinful, rebellious man, is ever perfect.

Therein lies man's problem with God, he can do nothing to atone for his sinful acts because he can produce nothing that is perfect to offer as payment.

Man's dilemma is actually worse. Why? Because "immutability" applies to all God's attributes. His perfect character demands perfect integrity. Many people mistakenly believe that because the Bible declares so clearly that "God loves us" that He will relent when it comes to executing judgment. But, He can't. His righteousness demands the penalty for sin be exacted (..."the soul that sins shall die"). If the Bible is true, He can not relent. He has said, "...I, the LORD, do not change...". Those who are hoping for some special, last minute mercy, when they finally face God, are going to be shocked and sorely disappointed. He cannot deny His justice and righteousness. If He did, He would cease to be God.

But, we know that He found a way to make it possible to satisfy His justice, righteousness, mercy and love...all at once! The answer was His Son. Newton could not have described it any better, it truly is "Amazing Grace." A Scottish hymn writer has penned another gem that describes the anchor we have in the unfailing grace poured out on us through Jesus Christ. His name was Horatius Bonar. I'd like to share some thoughts on him and a hymn he wrote, "I hear the words of Love."

'The Disruption of 1843'

Horatius Bonar was to the Church of Scotland in the 1800's what Charles Wesley was to the English Church in the 1700's. He was called the "prince of Scottish hymn writers." It was a tumultuous time in Western Europe. The true meaning of the "separation of church and state" was the issue there. State religions, dominated and directed by kings, queens and their appointed clergy, were the established rule. As the gospel flourished in these kingdoms, the inevitable conflict with the ruling factions emerged. The issue was simple. The king on earth cannot usurp the right of the King of Heaven to rule over His Church.

In Scotland, this conflict came to a head in 1843 when Thomas Chalmers (the most respected minister in all of Scotland) led a group of almost 500 clergymen to leave the royal church and form what was called the Free Church of Scotland. Horatius Bonar had only been a pastor 5 years when the "disruption" occurred. But, since he had been tutored by Chalmers himself, there was never a question where his sympathies would lie. His ministry and hymns reflect the conviction that "Jesus Christ is Lord."

He wrote over 600 hymns. His simplicity and clarity have assured his legacy, even to this day. One of the best known hymns he wrote seems to sum up the value of the immutability of God to His children.

He begins with faith:  

I hear the words of love,

I gaze upon the blood ;

I see the mighty sacrifice,

And I have peace with God.

The Lord says, "My sheep hear My voice...."  It's just a fact, His sheep hear His voice. It's different, it's distinct. Something resonates within the sheep and they know, "This is my shepherd." They see the mighty sacrifice, they understand what was necessary and realize at least something of the love that made it possible. They believe Him and trust Him...and they find the "peace" they could never have.

Then comes the assurance:

'Tis everlasting peace,

Sure as Jehovah's name ;

Tis stable as His steadfast throne,

For evermore the same.

This peace is stable, secure, permanent..."forevermore the same." Why? It's based on a covenant between the Father and the Son. It cannot ever be broken...because "He ever lives to make intercession for us". He died once, He can not die again. His kingdom is everlasting. If He is my King, His security is my security. But, why do I need such assurances?

Then come the inevitable trials and tribulations of life:

The clouds may come and go,

And storms may sweep my sky,

This blood-sealed friendship changes not,

The cross is ever nigh.

Peace with God means war with the world, the flesh and the devil. It just comes with the territory. The trials of life become the trials of faith. If a person is going to follow Christ, the requirement is simple, but it's also absolute. The Lord Himself said it, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me." The picture is unmistakable.

You have to turn away from the natural path of life your flesh will urge you to follow...with all your dreams and hopes, their possibilities and potential. You have to see this as the "broad path" and simply turn away from it. You die to living life for your sake, on your terms, for your satisfaction. Now you are free to follow Christ, to live for Him, to do His will...whatever that may be.

The "storms" will come and go, your anchor is that Christ died for you, you have been "bought for a price," now you live for Him. When Christ died for us, the Scripture says His motivation was "the joy set before Him." In other words, we were His reward. We were "saved" for Him, to Him we were worth the sacrifice. What is our motivation? What is our reward? Your reward is His love, the love of a husband for a wife, a father or mother for their child. It's an everlasting love. And it's all based on a 'blood-sealed' covenant that will never change. "It is finished", He said. And that secures our blessing for eternity.

But, there is a good side to change, from man's perspective. As Bonar writes, "I change, He changes not." While it is true that God never changes, His response to us can change. As rebellious sinners, we can only experience His justice. This demands judgment. While He may still love us, as rebels, "the wrath of God abides on us."

But, when we confess our sin and turn from going our own way, we don't continue to "abide under His wrath," instead we experience His forgiveness, His love and His blessing. He didn't change, but we did...and that changed our experience of Him.

How beautifully Bonar sums it all up...

I change, He changes not,

The Christ can never die ;

His love, not mine the resting place

His truth not mine the tie.

It is a place of true rest...eternal rest.