Series: Nature Lessons About God
I am the Lord, and I do not change. Malachi 3:6 NLT
Each
year, I go. And each year, I notice the same thing.
I
love nature, and one of my favorite places to visit is the mountains. Mountains
make their own weather, so the seasons there appear to be more concrete than in
other areas of my state. If I go in the spring, I expect to see trees budding
and wildflowers bursting forth from under layers of leaves left over from the
previous fall.
If I
make the trip in the fall, I expect to see leaves in various shades of color,
some already having fallen off. I also anticipate seeing thousands of people
who have come to observe the same things I have journeyed to view.
If I
visit during the winter months, I expect cold temperatures, bare trees, and icy
spots. Winter views trump those of other seasons because fronts have cleared
out the humidity of summer and no leaves on trees block my view. I can also
expect some roads to be closed due to inclement weather.
And
if I travel to the mountains in the summer, I can anticipate hot temps, but not
as hot as where I live. Flowers are alive with color, and the grass is
rainforest green.
Regardless
of what season I visit the mountains, I’ll find similar scenarios. That’s
because God created certain conditions to accompany particular regions. And He
says these seasons will remain until the end of time.
Through
the prophet Malachi, God reminded the people of why He had not destroyed them
despite their repeated disobedience: He was a God of grace and mercy. He had
been in the beginning, and He would remain the same until the end of time and
throughout eternity.
And
God hasn’t changed. God gives forgiveness when we don’t deserve it. He restores
us to a right relationship with Him when we don’t merit a relationship at all.
He gives blessings we can’t earn, and certainly don’t deserve. His nature of
mercy, love, and grace allow Him to do no less. When we fail Him, He doesn’t
return the favor. He holds us up when we let Him down. He sustains when we
don’t have the energy to take the next step. He enables us to move forward when
we don’t know how.
God
has never let His people down—and He never will. Trust the changeless nature of
the unchanging God.
Prayer:
Father, among life’s many changes, we are thankful that You never do.
Tweetable: What does nature teach you about God?
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