One of the most celebrated truths pertaining to our God is that He is immutable (unchanging).  He is holy, just, merciful, gracious, loving, all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere present.  Today, He is exactly what He always was, and always will be. “For I am the LORD, I change not… (Malachi 3:6).”  James refers to God as, “…the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)”  This simple truth has far reaching ramifications:

  Since God does not change, what He has proclaimed as truth will always be the truth. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalms 119:89)”  Truth never changes, because the Author of truth never changes.

  Since God does not change, what He promises must come to pass.  “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2Corinthians 1:20)”  God’s promises are sure because He never changes His mind, He cannot lie, and He never forgets.  He is immutable!

  Right and wrong are inseparably linked to Him, and since He is immutable, what He has determined to be right, or wrong, will always be right, or wrong.  For example: God calls homosexuality wrong in Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; and Romans 1:27.  God calls pornography wrong in Matthew 5:28-29; 1Cor. 6:18-20; and Galatians 5:19-25.  God calls transgenderism wrong in Genesis 1:27; Deuteronomy 22:5; and 1Corinthians 6:9.  God calls lying wrong in Proverbs 6:16-19; 12:22; 19:9; and Psalms 101:7.  God calls pride wrong in Proverbs 11:2; 16:5; and 16:18.  …and the list goes on.  Today, our perception of right, and wrong, do not align with God’s Word, so we are certainly misled, because “right” and “wrong” were His idea, and He never changes.

  As believers, we who know God, are His representatives on earth.  We must represent God’s immutability to those who do not yet know Him.  If we, as children of God, perceive His truth as evolving, if we doubt His promises, if we accept what He calls wrong as right, or what He calls right as wrong, our lives will convey to the world that we serve a God who changes with time, and He does not!

  Today, around the world, the masses clamor for peace while celebrating diversity.  But common sense tells us that diversity is the enemy of peace.  Even the Word of God clearly states:  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalms 133:1)”

  We have been unified before as a nation, even in times of war (on other soils).  While at peace among ourselves, we laughed together, worked together, mourned together, and sometimes died together.  But then, the unifying force of our common cause ended; the war was over, and after our victory celebration faded, we began to celebrate our diversity again.  Soon, our national unity and its subsequent peace had dissipated.  So, must we be at war with others, to be at peace among ourselves?  NO, but we must have unity of cause before we will have true peace, whether it be in our families, churches, businesses, nation, or in the whole human race.  But beware, a counterfeit unity produces only a counterfeit peace—a bad peace.  

  Those who study the Scriptures know that there is coming a day when a Satanically inspired man will step onto the world stage as a peacemaker in the Middle East.  He is depicted as the rider of a white horse in the book of Revelation, chapter six, who makes his entrance with a bow (but no arrows), and a crown.  He will conquer nations without firing a shot, be appointed the head of a confederacy of ten nations, and broker a peace treaty in the Middle East between Israel and surrounding nations.  His peace will be a false peace and last only long enough for Israel to drop her guard, and rest defenselessly in the false peace of their feigned deliverer.  There will be Great Tribulation!

  So, is there hope?  Is peace within our grasp?  Probably not universally, but thankfully God offers a peace that does not depend upon the circumstances—a personal peace.  “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7)”  And remember, Jesus is the “Prince of Peace!” (Isaiah 9:6)

  What do you think of money?  Perhaps you are not exactly sure how to articulate it, or maybe to divulge your musings would be a bit embarrassing.  But there is certainly nothing wrong with having “enough” money, after all money can be used to accomplish good things—but it can also be a gruesome taskmaster, and steal away the true substance of life as God intended for us to live it.  He said, “…a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)”  And yet so many have succumbed to the “song of the sirens,” and fallen into the clutches of the dollar gods who exploit our obsession, only for evil.

  Though I am sure it is not a categorical truth, it seems to me that few “professionals” (e.g. medical, legal, engineering, political, retail, etc.) offer their services for the health and betterment of mankind (My apologies to the exceptions).  Most seem to be motivated these days by the insatiable desire to obtain more money.  Moral and ethical decency seem to be set aside in order to gather dollars from the dark side—No, not illegally, but with motives and methods that they would rather not disclose.

  These are not my ideas, but God’s.  He has said, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1Timothy 6:10)” These words are applicable to individuals, families, churches, businesses, and governments.  But our God is no cosmic killjoy who desires to keep us poor and miserable.  After all, His Son, Jesus, taught us, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)”

  So, how much is enough?  What are our basic needs?  The Lord instructs us,  “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1Timothy 6:6-9)”

  In the process of time, God ordained three institutions: the Family, Government, and the Church.  Each of them was given specific, divinely ordered responsibilities to administer His principles and precepts in the various aspects of human life.  Because of the sinfulness of man, the institutes have become divided and developed a bias contrary to the moral laws of God.

  Jesus Himself said that the division in each of these institutions would result in their downfall.  Couples selfishly divorce, and family brokenness becomes generational.  Governments divide over transient ideologies and become ineffective.  Churches are infiltrated by divisive worldly philosophy and false doctrine and become venues for social interaction without spiritual fervor.  All three institutions in America began to crumble when divine principles were all but forgotten.

  Alexis de Tocqueville, a 19th century French statesman, historian and philosopher, toured America in the 1830’s.  Here are some quotes commonly attributed to him, “In the United States, the influence of religion is not confined to the manners, but it extends to the intelligence of the people… Christianity, therefore, reigns without obstacle, by universal consent… I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors…; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.  The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.  The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.  Christianity is the companion of liberty in all its conflicts — the cradle of its infancy, and the divine source of its claims.”

  When the phrase, “the Babe,” is heard at this time of year, perhaps most minds are still drawn to the Babe in a manger, 2000 years ago in the village of Bethlehem.  He was called Jesus, the Christ.  The word Christ in the New Testament, and Messiah in the Old Testament are the same word in different languages.  They mean Anointed One, and in the case of Jesus, God’s Anointed One.  In the scriptures, priests and kings were anointed with oil at their inauguration.  Jesus is both a Priest and a King—God’s Anointed.   

  The Bible tells us that in His incarnation [being born on earth], Jesus, who is God’s eternal Son, became, “God in the flesh.”  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3, 14)”

  This raises the question, Why would God choose to be robed in flesh and live among men?  The Bible clearly states that God, in His holiness, cannot tolerate sin.  In His justice, He cannot overlook sin, and His judicial laws require that the penalty of death be imposed upon all sin.    Since sinful man has nothing to offer in his own defense, Jesus became “God in the flesh” to bear the penalty for man’s sin, and make him eligible for forgiveness..

  But, according to God’s law, our redemption would require the bloody, sacrificial death of a Perfect Sinless Substitute.  “…without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness]. (Hebrews 9:22)”  The story of His passion is called the gospel, or “Good News.”  “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Corinthians 15:3-4)”

  Jesus is God’s gift to you, but you will have to receive Him!  “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)”