For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6)

There is one constant and that is change. Change occurs all around us. For those who do not embrace change, they wake up one day and ask, "When did that happen?"

Could you imagine falling into a deep sleep in 1970 and waking up today to see life in these United States? The movie "Shawshank Redemption" does that in a subtle yet meaningful way when James Whitmore's character Brooks is released. He can't assimilate back into normal society and is what they refer to as "institutionalized." The prison life is all he knew. In a letter back to the inmates, he comments on how fast-paced American life is.

In 1970, everything was done by hand, no real automation or computing, except for functions run by key-cards and mainframes in large companies. No desk tops, laptops or tablets/hand held devices. There is a photo of President Johnson, taken late in his presidency (around 1968 which is close enough to 1970 for our purposes) that shows him "keeping up with the news." He had a panel of three televisions all tuned to the news from the then-"major networks." It's a great reminder of how much has changed in the time between 1970 and now.

Imagine the leap from Christ's time to now. Yet one thing is constant. The God of before time, Creation, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, the disciples, Martin Luther, and now is the same God, unchanged and unchanging. He will be so into eternity. So He declares in Malachi. He does not change. He loves His creation and His people. The big word for this is "immutable." Our characteristic or trait of God from scripture is He is immutable (unchanging).

The study notes expand on this: "He continues to condemn sin but His mercy endures forever." God showed mercy to Adam and Eve and to you and me. The Lord of the church, Christ, also God, sees the church through these same changing times as Lord of the church. We are His bride, and He will continue to work with His Spirit through us regardless of shifts and changes.

Pray with me: Gracious God, Heavenly Father, keep us steadfast in the one true faith. Help us to share the Truth regardless of times or seasons or changes. In Christ's name, Amen.