Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

We do not need to be reminded that we live in a society whose standards are ever evolving, and inarguably, moving away from the truth of the gospel message. There are enormous pressures confronting the church to acknowledge, accept, and adapt the practices and beliefs that are contrary to historical, orthodox positions of the church.

For some time now we have been warned that if we do not “get with the program,” we will find ourselves isolated and irrelevant. It is heartbreaking to hear of established pastors and ministers “discovering” a new way of interpreting the Bible, simply because they have decided to please man rather than God.

We can only speak authoritatively to the present situation. But we know that the pressure to compromise with the world and attempt to “fit in” and not to be thought of as strange and different has been there from the beginning. Paul warned the Romans:

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 (MSG)

J. B. Phillip’s earlier translation of this verse emphasized “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” The battle is real, but we must not forget that Jesus Christ is still the same as he was and will continue to be. The battle is real.

God Does Not Change

Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. But you are the same, and your years will never end. Psalm 102:25–27 (CSB)

Secretly, or maybe not so secretly, many people would like to see a God who is more flexible. A God whose standards are not so rigid. Perhaps you have seen the bumper stickers with the word “COEXIST” with each letter represented by the symbol of a different religion.

Christ-followers could never agree to this because Jesus Christ demands an exclusive relationship. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (CSB)

From the beginning, Jews and Christians would not have had any problem with Roman society and religion, if they had only been willing to add their God to the multitude of gods already acknowledged by the world. Society was open to a plurality of gods, but the God who does not change is the only true God.

The God who does not change is a threat to this world’s way of doing things: You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods. Acts 19:26 (CSB)

We find encouragement and comfort in the God who does not change. I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8 (CSB)

The God Who Hears Us

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:1–2 (NLT)

We must never be confused that the God who is immutable, who does not change, is in any way unapproachable to us. When we are in trouble, when we need wisdom or comfort, he is the God who sees us and hears us.

It is our experience and understanding that those who are in positions of power and high places cannot be approached. At least by ordinary people like us. When Hagar fled with Ishmael, into the wilderness, God heard the cries of the boy. Upon hearing the prophetic words regarding her son, Hagar made this declaration:

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” Genesis 16:13 (NLT)

There may be times when we wonder if God hears us or pays attention to us because in the world’s eyes, we are not important. We see ourselves as insignificant. Even the Psalmist wondered if his prayers were heard: However, God has listened; he has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me. Psalm 66:19–20 (CSB)

Worldly status does not affect God’s approachability: For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people. Psalm 69:33 (NLT)

Abba Father

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6 (NLT)

We should never mistake God’s unchanging nature for being distant or unapproachable. Whenever we face trouble or seek wisdom and comfort, he is always present—he sees us and listens to our cries.

To those that do not know our God, they find his ways restrictive and out of touch with modern culture. It’s because they do not understand the heart of the father. God wants us to know that we can come to him. Chris Tomlin sings it well:

You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who You are, It’s who You are, It’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, It’s who I am, It’s who I am.

Our God is still the same as he has always been. What he was yesterday, and what he is today, he will be tomorrow. He is good, and he bends low to hear our prayers. We must never forget that he is God alone, and that he will not share his glory with another. Yet, as his children, we can come to him because he is a good Father.

Steve Ekeroth