Discovering Steadfastness in a Shifting World
“I the LORD do not change.”
Malachi 3:6 NIV
In a world that is ever changing, in a culture ever shifting, where do we plant our feet? Why would we want to? Is freedom found in receiving the perpetual motion of change? Or is ultimate freedom found in anchoring oneself to that which does not change? One, a floating, if you will, the second an anchor while all else floats around you. If truth is relative to the lens of the truth teller, is it truth? The questions flow through my mind not unlike the shifting world around me.
It’s tempting, isn’t it? A life lived receiving ever changing truth, floating with the culture, receiving that which seems to come to you in truth at any given moment of any given day. All things acceptable, and that which is unacceptable only decidedly so within the context of the moment. Easier, maybe. Less conflict, less guilt, no shame, taking the best out of each moment as seems suitable to each of us. Living and dying in a floating, untethered existence. Adventurous, if you could manage to untangle all that binds you. The only permanent thing, the constant motion of change. Taking the best out of each moment as it seems suitable to each of us seems like an approach to being our own god. Tempting, unless of course we have need for a real god.
And life anchored to a constant truth? What are the benefits to living tethered to a rock in a fast moving current? Certainly, you must be willing to be knocked around a bit. Knocked around, but still held fast. There will be bumps and bruises. Could someone shout this out loud please? Amongst the shiny, Instagram image of walking in truth, could someone please declare that if you choose to live this way there will be bumps and bruises? Shout it loudly, because we need to understand that adhering to universal unchanging truth is not always going to be a bang up good time.
From a Biblical perspective, being tethered to truth is akin more to abiding than binding. Truth is received as the non-changing character of God. Assuming we have need for a real god, why would one choose any god other than the God who proclaims Himself to be, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7 NIV). Why would anyone turn away from a God like that, unless our shifting truth has caused us to be blind to the fact that we are the wicked, rebellious and sinful? Unless our shifting truth has led us to believe that the only god we need is ourself?
Here is the good news, for those who live under the belief that the God of the Bible is who He says He is, being tethered, abiding looks a whole bunch like a God who will not let you go. He is a God of steadfastness. He is steadfast in His compassion, His grace, His patience, His love, His faithfulness, and His willingness to forgive His children. Steadfast is who He is. As the Psalter writes, because of the steadfastness of our Father, “we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging,” God is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1-3). Though the culture shift and change, though truth be turned upside down, though our children be force fed philosophies designed to lead them towards a path of self-destruction, we will not fear because the LORD our God is steadfast to provide refuge and strength to His children. Though everything changes and nothing makes sense, our God remains unchanged, unmoved, unthwarted, and undeterred. He will not trick you. He will not confuse you. He will not fool you. He is who He says He is. And tomorrow He will be the same. God is steadfast to His character.
In a world influenced by political agenda, power mongering, and wealth, God’s purpose is steadfast. His purpose for His people, His creation, unchanged. The story began in a garden (Genesis 2) and will end in a garden (Revelation 22). The story began with God living amongst His people and will end with God living amongst His people. The ending of the story written simultaneously with the beginning [Isaiah 46:10]. He sets up those in power and He takes them out [Daniel 21:2]. Not only is God’s purpose for humanity unchanging and intact, His purpose for you is as well. You cannot mess up your kingdom purpose. It is already written in the story, the end and the beginning. Jonah could not mess up his purpose. David could not. Peter could not. Paul could not. You cannot. While all the jostling, battling, distraction, interruption is occurring, as you stay tethered to your steadfast God, your kingdom purpose is intact. Staying tethered seems to be difficult? No worries, He will not let you go. God is steadfast to His purpose.
Bangs up, hang ups and bruises may happen to you, wait, they will happen. Being bound to truth while the current of the world rushes past you, sometimes you will stand in the way of the world advancing its agenda. Sometimes, it will come close to breaking you. When this happens, remember God is steadfast in His presence. He will not leave you or forsake you. He will not forget you or trade you [Deuteronomy 31:6]. He will use that which is intended for evil, for your good [Genesis 50:20]. God shelters you under His wings [Psalm 91:4], He comforts you when your heart is broken [Psalm 34:18], He sings over you in delight [Zephaniah 3:17], and guides [John 14:26] you until He takes you home. When the world is loud and confusion rules the day, you can have peace that passes understanding. You can be light in darkness. You can love the unloveable. You can stand planted in what does not change, because God is steadfast in His presence.
Perhaps one of the most difficult to comprehend, God is steadfast in His love. Love being defined by that which is unfailing, patient, kind, not envious or boastful, not self-seeking or easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs, always protecting, trusting, hoping and persevering [1 Corinthians 13:4-8]. Your heart may be hard, you may be an expert builder of walls, you may mess up so badly you believe your purpose, your salvation, your relationship is lost, but God still loves you. A father with open arms weeping in joy at the site of his prodigal son, a Christ stretched on a cross, willfully substituting His life for mine and for yours, a God who relentlessly holds onto His children, no matter what, these are the images of the God who loves you. In a world where love is sold, bartered, transacted and taken away, God loves you at no cost to you. God loves you at the cost of Himself, at the cost of His son. God is steadfast in His love.
Is freedom found in floating in the ever moving current of the world? In a world where science is not valid, governments are not honest, money is relative, and we are continuously being bombarded with information that is biased, is there any reason at all to hold onto the truth of the God of the Bible? I would challenge you, that despite the nonsensicalness of it (come on, you are used to nonsensical, you have access to the internet) ultimate freedom is found by willfully tethering ourselves to Jesus Christ and the Word of God. In John 8:31-32 NIV, Jesus declares, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” You will know freedom in a world where sin entangles you, in a world that will leave you empty. The world wants you to believe that truth shifts, and therefore does not exist. The current is so strong and it runs to the rhythm of self-discovery, self-love, self-fulfillment, and self-rule, all leading to self-destruction. In this chaos, God comes down, bends low and invites you to be held by a purpose, a presence, and a love that does not change. He bends low and invites you to know Himself, a God who does not change. In this you will not only find freedom, but ultimately you will in fact discover yourself and who were designed to be, in Christ.
“One must face the fact that all the talk about His (Christ’s) love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself—creatures, whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over.”
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
