That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrew 6:18).
The great character of God is His immutableness, and it is the basis of the Christian faith- that God is faithful and His counsel, once purposed remains fixed.
Therefore, once God makes a covenant promise it becomes fixed and stable.
These promises abide because God is not like men whose promises and determination could waver like the branches of a tree pressured by a strong wind.
Nothing pressures God to change is covenant promises to His children.
But because covenants have various obligations between two parties involved, explaining the rewards and the punishments that the individual is to expect if he breaks and keeps the covenant.
Many people become confused about the immutability of God’s character. This is because when covenants are broken one party withholds his promise while the other party suffers the consequences.
For example, a great covenant of God to man is the covenant promise of eternal life:
‘in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began’. (Titus 1:2).
Even though God has a fixed purpose to grant eternal life to men, which underscores His immutableness, men have a role to play for this great covenant not to fail in their lives.
In Luke 16:29-31, we read about the responsibility of man if he must enjoy the covenant promise of eternal life which God has promised and which cannot fail:
‘the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They (Paul and Silas) replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.’
To be saved and enjoy the promise of eternal life the responsibility of man is very clear, and it says, only believe.
Believing and having faith in the immutable promises of God is the whole essence of the Christian life.
However, there are certain things that hinder believe in the life of a natural man and in the life of believers as well and they include ego, his love of logic, pride, feelings and fears.
In the Christian parlance all these are considered the expression of the natural man and far from the nature of a spiritually minded man.
The carnal nature of man, if not confronted with the word of God will always work to frustrate a vigorous walk with God. They are faith killers, and that is why it is impossible to please God without faith.
In fact, the greatest tragedy of a walk with God is the inability of man to constantly break from his carnal and sensual nature in order to enjoy the immutable promises of God.
While our feelings and circumstances may waver, and they will always do, on the contrary the covenant promise of God will not waver because they exist outside our carnal life, and it therefore takes an unwavering faith in the word of God to access these promises which resides in the spiritual realm.
In the parable of the Sower 4 kinds of soil were presented in Jesus’ story. Some fell on the path (Matthew 13:4). Others fell where the topsoil was thin (Matthew 13:5). Some fell in the thorns (Matthew 13:7). And finally, some fell in good soil (Matthew 13:8).
Now what does this teach us? It teaches that to the extent that we can do away with our carnal nature, through the constant application of the word of God to our situation, to the same extent will the word of God profit us, and to a large extent shall we be able to reap abundant harvest from the promises of God.
Reading
Matthew 13:18-32
