Immutable

It's a theologian's word -- immutable. We know what it means, of course. It means that the mute button doesn't work. Okay, no. There is, as it turns out, no connection between "mute" and "immutable." Immutability is simply the inability to change. And of all the things we know, just about the only thing I know of that is truly unable to change is God.

Why would I (we) say that? Well, it wasn't originally our idea. God said, "I, the LORD, do not change" (Mal 3:6). This is a quote from God. God declares Himself immutable.

However, even without God's explicit word about Himself, we would have to conclude it's true. God by definition is the highest, the ultimate, the perfect. There is no imperfection in Him. There is no lack, no need, nothing more required. When He told Moses His name was "I Am That I Am" (Exo 3:14), He was declaring Himself the self-existent One -- the only one of His kind. So if God really is all that, what change could He do? Change means better or worse. If He were to change it would have to be to improve or to deteriorate. Obviously neither is possible. He already contains all perfections, so He can't get "perfecter" (since no such word or even concept exists). And a God who decays is no God. A God who is Omnipotent can't gain more power. A God who is Omniscient can't gain more knowledge. A God who is Omnipresent can't go somewhere He hasn't gone before. A God who is Sovereign cannot become more Sovereign.

This attribute of immutability gives us all kinds of benefits. His power, His knowledge, His presence, His policies, none of who He is can fail. None of what He is doing can fall short. When we are promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5), it's not the promise of a sure-to-fail human. It is the promise of an Immutable God. He will never, never, leave you or forsake you, where "never" is a reality rather than hyperbole. His essence does not change. His attributes do not change. His plans do not change. His promises do not change. Neither His love for His own nor His hatred for sin changes. His salvation does not change.

Solomon wrote, "My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not associate with those who are given to change" (Prov 24:21). God is not "given to change." He deserves our trust and provides us with all that we need because He is not given to change. His immutability is our great source of confidence and peace.