Changeless God

James 1:17 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.'

This verse is all about change and changelessness.
God is changeless, all else changes. 'Nothing defines our age more than the furious and relentless increase in the rate of change,' summarizes historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

For thousands of years of recorded history change came in a slow, controlled and understandable rate, now we are brutally jerked forward at warp speed whether we like it or not. This morning God says seek out the old paths where you find rest for your soul.

When James introduces us to our changeless, unchanging, never varying Father, he calls Him the Father of Lights. This is quite an introduction.

Observe with me all the truth in this short verse:

1. God gives gifts.
2. God is above us.
3. God gives only good things to us. (Satan gives loans with high intterset rates)
4. God gives perfect gifts (Satan gives only tricks)
5. God gives constantly. (All the tenses of the verbs in this verse are present indicatives meaning ongoing action.)
6. God is the Father of Lights (stars, cosmic luminaries, etc.)
7. God does not change, vary, quit, get cut off, run out, burn out, etc!