AN EVERLASTING AND UNCHANGING GOD!

Nothing about God ever changes.

·         His character and qualities are consistent and persistent. (Psalm 102:27; Malachi 3:6)

·         His love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, patience, and gentleness remain forever. (Galatians 5:22,23; Psalm 136:7)

·         He does not lie. (Numbers 23:19,20; Hebrews 6:18)

·         Once He has blessed, that blessing is a promise that cannot be reversed. (Numbers 23:19,20; Hebrews 6:17)

·         He has never failed. (Numbers 23:19,20)

·         He always gives good gifts, and He is always for our good. (James 1:17)

·         His plans and purposes are unchangeable despite man’s efforts to interfere or sin. (Malachi 3:6)

The Word tells us that God is unchanging. Let’s go back into the creation of the world, to the Garden of Eden, and explore the heart, intention, purposes, and plans of a wonderful God as we remember that He is the same today as He was then and will be in the future (Hebrews 13:8).

·         God lovingly, artistically, and powerfully created the world, the heavens, and everything in it. With each created thing, “God saw that it was good”, “very good” (Genesis 1; Genesis 1:31; Genesis 2:1-6).

·         Once the earth and the heavens were made, and all provision created (Genesis 2:8), God lovingly made man and woman in His image (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:21-25) and placed them in the Garden. He gave them every herb that yields seed to produce more and every creature in which there was also life to multiply (Genesis 1:29,30). Everything they needed was provided in advance by God.

·         God blessed man and woman and told them to be fruitful and multiply, and gave them dominion over the earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:28).

·         Genesis confirms that God spoke with man and woman as He informed them of His provision, and He even gave Adam the task of naming the animals; God brought the animals to him to name (Genesis 2:19,20).

·         They walked in the Garden and could hear the Lord (Genesis 3:8).

What do we learn from the Garden of Eden? Remember this is the same God we know today:

·         God lovingly created mankind and gave them a beautiful world to live in, completely supplied with every need.

·         He desired a relationship with them.

·         God was attentive to the needs of mankind, recognizing their need for nourishment and food.

·         He demonstrated that the food and animals would need a source of water and nourishment as well.

·         God also desired to bless mankind with something beautiful to enjoy, a Garden of flowers and trees.

Based on an unchanging, magnificent, and loving God, we know that He cares for us, about us, and desires a relationship with us. The creation of the heavens, earth, and every living thing shows His ability. Is anything impossible for Him? Is anything too hard for Him? (Jeremiah 32:17; Jeremiah 32:27)

Based on the qualities of His person, we should experience the following:

·         Full assurance that He is God Almighty (Isaiah 54:5).

·         His promises are consistent and constant, and should be our firm foundation that never shifts while we stand on them (Matthew 7:24-29).

·         God and His Word should be our source of hope even when we face problems that don’t seem to respond to prayer; He is always listening, answering, and responding (1 John 5:14,15).

·         When we sin or mess up, we can count on His love to be unchanging for us. Therefore, His care for us will never change. He always desires us! (Ephesians 1:3-7; Ephesians 2:4,5)

·         Even when man and woman were disobedient, lacked trust, and pushed Him away, God never abandoned them, and He always had a good plan and purpose. It is the same with us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

·         God is ever present in our lives with His strength, wisdom, and ability for us (Philippians 4:13; Colossians 2:3).

·         It gives Him pleasure to give us things to enjoy. He gave us Jesus, will He not with Him provide us with everything else that we need (Romans 8:32)?

·         We should have boldness every day to come into His presence as we understand the magnificence of His love and care for us (Hebrews 4:16).

·         Knowing God should cause us to live in confidence in all that He is (2 Peter 1:2,3).