During this worldwide crisis, many of us are concerned about the changes that are being wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. We wonder what the world will look like once we emerge from the lockdowns.

Will life truly return to the way it was before? Will there be thousands of small businesses that will never reopen? Will we ever be able to gather in large crowds like we did in the past? Will the way we “do life” have changed permanently because of this pandemic?

It’s at times like these that we need something that never changes, much like conifers. During the winter, when deciduous trees are bare, I’m thankful for coniferous trees. These loyal friends, like the spruces, pines and firs, still have their mantle of green, which they’ll keep year-round. These silent sentinels might not be flashy, but we can count on them not to change.

God’s character is like that, too.

When the world seems to be in turmoil, and life is changing in ways that are distressing and unpredictable, we need something unchanging to hold on to. That something is our eternal Heavenly Father.

Scripture says that God doesn’t change:

“I am the Lord, and I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6a NLT) Another translation puts it, “I do not go back on my promises.”

James 1:17 tells us that, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (NIV)

This is true of each member of the Godhead. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (NLT)

In Psalm 102:27 we learn that God remains the same, and that His years never end. We can count on God to always be there for us, because He’s always been there, even before the earth was created. In fact, God is an eternal being: He exists outside of our notion of time.

“Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past.” (Psalm 93:2 NLT)

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2 KJ21)

Scripture tells us that God’s existence is eternal and His throne endures from generation to generation. But those aren’t the only things never-ending about God. We also know that his lovingkindness and mercy toward us are everlasting.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1 CSB)

Isn’t that a wonderful thing to contemplate? Isn’t it good to know that, even if some things in life won’t be the same after the pandemic, God’s love for us is will remain the same?

Would you like to get to know this eternal God, whose love for us is unfathomable and relentless? Get to know His Son, Jesus:

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” (John 17:3 NLT)

In a world full of unsettling change, we can trust our unchanging God. Like coniferous trees, God’s character is “evergreen”: His love and mercy toward us abide forever.

Some things never change…and that’s a good thing!

© 2020 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.