Self-help books have been popular as long as I can remember. What I find ironic is despite the great volume of books written with terrific insights, new self-help books retain timeless appeal. This is likely for two main reasons: books cannot fundamentally change us, and despite our new knowledge still see our need for positive change. The change we desire continues to remain elusive.
The confidence of a follower of Jesus Christ is not in our ability to change, but that God does not change and has the power to change us. See what the prophet wrote in Malachi 3:1-6: "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. 2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, as in former years. 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien--because they do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts. 6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."
Jesus Christ has come, and He will someday return from heaven with His saints to judge the world in righteousness. The Day of Judgment should strike fear into all, especially those who do not regard God or expect Him. Those whose lives are marked with sin shall be purged, and offerings will again be pleasing and acceptable to God in righteousness. God did not provide false hope to the people, that if they really tried hard they could maintain His righteous standard and earn His favour. Their only hope was in the mercy and grace of God who had made an everlasting covenant with them who does not change. When the Law was given by Moses the people committed themselves to do all God had said, but they went back on their word. God, in total contrast, would not deviate from fulfilling the New Covenant in His own blood He would make through Jesus Christ.
Paul said to believers in Acts 20:28: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Jesus Christ the Son of God was sent by the heavenly Father to seek and save the lost, and He stayed the course--which included crucifixion on Calvary--and culminated with His death and resurrection. Jesus paid the price of atonement required for divine justice to be satisfied, and through faith in Him we are justified and saved. We are not justified, sanctified, or glorified because we have changed but because of the grace of God who does not change. In God we find a Rock of Salvation, an enduring hope, and righteousness by grace through faith. His Word remains true, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. The everlasting Light of the World reveals who we are, those who have feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. God also directs us by the Bible and the Holy Spirit how we should walk and where to go.
A relationship with God who does not change will utterly transform us from the inside out. And there awaits a final change for all who are born again spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Life on earth is often chaotic, but through faith in Jesus we can be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD. The God who does not change provides the basis for our endurance, strength, and fruitfulness. How wondrous this is, the immutability and goodness of our God and Saviour!
The confidence of a follower of Jesus Christ is not in our ability to change, but that God does not change and has the power to change us. See what the prophet wrote in Malachi 3:1-6: "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. 2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, as in former years. 5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien--because they do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts. 6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."
Jesus Christ has come, and He will someday return from heaven with His saints to judge the world in righteousness. The Day of Judgment should strike fear into all, especially those who do not regard God or expect Him. Those whose lives are marked with sin shall be purged, and offerings will again be pleasing and acceptable to God in righteousness. God did not provide false hope to the people, that if they really tried hard they could maintain His righteous standard and earn His favour. Their only hope was in the mercy and grace of God who had made an everlasting covenant with them who does not change. When the Law was given by Moses the people committed themselves to do all God had said, but they went back on their word. God, in total contrast, would not deviate from fulfilling the New Covenant in His own blood He would make through Jesus Christ.
Paul said to believers in Acts 20:28: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Jesus Christ the Son of God was sent by the heavenly Father to seek and save the lost, and He stayed the course--which included crucifixion on Calvary--and culminated with His death and resurrection. Jesus paid the price of atonement required for divine justice to be satisfied, and through faith in Him we are justified and saved. We are not justified, sanctified, or glorified because we have changed but because of the grace of God who does not change. In God we find a Rock of Salvation, an enduring hope, and righteousness by grace through faith. His Word remains true, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. The everlasting Light of the World reveals who we are, those who have feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. God also directs us by the Bible and the Holy Spirit how we should walk and where to go.
A relationship with God who does not change will utterly transform us from the inside out. And there awaits a final change for all who are born again spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Life on earth is often chaotic, but through faith in Jesus we can be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD. The God who does not change provides the basis for our endurance, strength, and fruitfulness. How wondrous this is, the immutability and goodness of our God and Saviour!
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