PSALM 86:11 – Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE FICKLENESS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. Apart from the Bible, one of the most important books ever penned on the attributes of God is “The Existence and Attributes of God” by the puritan Stephen Charnock. It was written in the mid-1600’s and remains in print today. What we are about to read is Charnock’s insight on the changeableness of man contrasted with the unchanging nature of God. When it comes to heart-warming and soul-stirring character traits in our God, His immutability, His unchanging nature, is right up there at the top of the list. So, please, take time and read Charnock’s encouraging words about us and our unchanging God. Settle in for a lengthy time of drinking deep from the well of this godly puritan pastor/theologian. It will feed our souls and make our hearts soar in worship and thanksgiving for our unchanging God!
“Man changes, and what an infinite distance between man and an immutable God! This should cause us to lie down under a sense of our nothingness in the presence of the Creator. In the fall, man was wounded in his head and heart; the wound in the head made him unstable in the truth, and that in his heart, unsteadfast in his affections. He is like a ship without pilot or sails, or a weathervane that is turned by every breath of wind. We waver between God and Baal. While we are resolving, we look back at Sodom. Sometimes we are lifted up with heavenly intentions, and presently cast down with earthly cares. Our resolutions are like letters written on water. With John we love Christ today, and as Judas tomorrow we betray him. We are resolved to be holy as angels in the morning, and the evening beholds us as impure as devils. Peter vowed allegiance, and almost with the same breath swore against him. The flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. In a good man, how often there is a spiritual lethargy! Though he does not openly defame God, yet he does not always glorify him. He does not forsake the truth, but he does not seek to rest in it. How hard it is to make our thoughts and affections keep their stand! Place them on a good object, and they will be flying from it like a bird from branch to branch. This ought to trouble us! Though we may stand fast in the truth, and spin our resolutions into a firm web, and though the Spirit may triumph over the flesh in our practice, we ought to bewail the inconstancy of our nature. The stability we do have is from grace. How contrary we are to the unchangeable God, who is always the same! And he would have us the same in our religious promises and resolutions for good!”
There is an interesting paradox when it comes to seeing our fickle and changing nature and God’s steadfast, unchanging nature. The more we see ourselves for what we really are, the more we see God for who He really is. The result is a life desirous of more unwavering obedience to such a wonderful God. May we worship Him today and all our days for His unchanging nature!
PRAYER: “Lord, I so praise You for being my unchangeable God.”
QUOTE: “We change daily. He changes not. Our feelings waver. He changes not. And this is a foundation for praise”