The God Who Never Changes

“His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee. O city of God! Selah” Ps. 87:1,2

On April 28th I celebrated my 36th anniversary of the day I surrendered my life to Christ in Cross City Correctional Institution. It was a quiet day that actually found me meditating on the week before and the previous four months of writing and getting ready for our first presentation of the play the Lord called me to write. I had focused so intently on preparing for the play that I didn’t even notice that it was my anniversary until the following day.

They say, “time passes quickly when you’re having fun”. I have found that it does so whether you’re having fun or not. Especially after you reach a certain age; for me that was fifty. After that it seemed as though time took on another pace altogether and I was racing toward the finish line at breakneck speed. Maybe the Lord does that so we can focus on the important things and have a good showing when we cross the line.

When I think back about all the changes that have come and gone in my life, in the world and in the Church, I realize how special it is that we serve a God who never changes. “The Lord loveth the Gates of Zion.” Why? Because Zion represents His everlasting covenant with a people: His undying commitment to do that which He set out to do in the beginning: create a family of those who desire to be with Him eternally.

We recently passed another wonderful mark in our family. It was just over a year ago that my wife Jolyn was lying in a hospital bed on total life support for five days. By God’s mercy she suddenly awoke and three days later she left the hospital as though nothing had happened. She spent those days in the presence of God and He sent her back with a message: Tell the people about my unconditional love and tell them to get ready.

It is hard for us as humans to imagine unconditional love. We make stabs at it randomly throughout our time on earth and even find ourselves making fresh commitments occasionally to love others that way but, sad to say, we usually come short of the goal. Yet we keep plodding along hoping to get better at it as we go. “It wouldn’t be so hard if it wasn’t for all those ‘other people’. What’s wrong with them? Why do they make it so hard for me to love them like God loves me?” That’s a good question. They probably feel the same way about you and I.

Phew! That’s what I say when I think about all the different doctrines and methodologies that I have seen and heard along my road to the gates of Zion. After thirty-six years I think I’ve heard them all but nope, I’m sure there are more yet to come before it’s all over. God must have incredible patience. It seems we are always looking for a new way to get God on our side. To get Him to validate that our truth is the right truth. When all else fails it’s great to know that God is still the same as He always has been, and that in spite of our flailing about to get our own way, He still loves us.

I’ve come to understand that it’s not about rules and regulations, it’s about relationship; not about right and wrong, it’s about the incredible love that God has demonstrated in the giving of His son Jesus Christ as an offering for our sin and disobedience. “Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise?” (Ps. 106:2 NKJV)

A few months ago I spoke in a service saying that ‘God loves us so much that He has even prepared a place for those who don’t want to be with Him’. Some who were there commented that they thought that was funny but not true. I still believe that what I said was right. Think about it. How many people have you known in your life — and maybe even in the churches you have attended — that seem like they don’t want anything to do with God? They don’t want to worship Him; they don’t want to honor Him; they don’t want Him in their lives. For that person heaven would really be hell, if heaven is truly like the Bible says it is.

The question that comes to mind is this: Is Jesus the Lord of your life or just the Lord of your death? I think that many people want God to be there for them when they die, but to stay in the background while they live; a backup plan so to speak. I used to think like that before I knew Christ through his Word.

In reality God has made it easy for us to do what pleases Him. We only need to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. (John 6:29) If we truly do that the rest will take care of itself. He will do His part because He is a covenant keeper.

Yet as I write these words I realize that life is still tricky. Who can understand why a little child dies of leukemia before even getting a chance to experience life? Why some people get healed when we pray for them and others do not? Why good people seem to go before their time and bad ones seem to live forever? Why some people struggle all their lives and others seem to drift on a cloud of ease and comfort? So many unanswered questions in this life . . . and sometimes God seems to be silent.

And then I see Jesus “. . . who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) When I read this I realize that if all other questions go unanswered God has still given me something beyond all I could ask or hope for in my own strength: the privilege of a relationship with Him through the sacrifice of Christ.

I pray for you today that you will know the unconditional love of God in your own life and that whatever you may be going through at this time you will look to Him for the answers. He will not fail you though He may not do things the way you think He should. As I learned last year at the bedside of my wife, God is in control. Our job is to trust and obey.

May the Lord watch over you in these troubled times and forever

Craig