Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [James 1:16-17 ESV]
In a world and life that is ever changing, let us take comfort in knowing our God never changes. It always makes me wonder what people mean when they say, “I just want things to get back to normal.” When I really stop and think about my life, I’m not sure what normal is except an ever-flowing life of change. I go from one season to the next, never having been here and not knowing how to live in this stage of life nor the next. As soon as I feel I may have some understanding on how to live and grow in this stage, God takes me on to the next. He continues to teach me to rely on Him in any and every situation.
Let’s not fear this change, because though the world will change, our God never will. Things will never be the same as they were before COVID-19 came into our vocabulary, even if the only change you find is the initial panic at the thought of needing to purchase a roll of toilet paper (and the relief you find when you see that big case in your shopping cart). I think of my grandfather and the food boxes and wrappers we found stored away in his closet. The Great Depression affected him and left an impression on his life. Our lives will be changed, but let’s let that change be one of continued maturity in the Lord.
As James 1:16-17 tells us, “Do not be deceived. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” Every perfect gift, even those that hurt, “coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there’s no variation or shadow due to change.”
I love the word picture here. God is the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Stick with me for a bit as I get a little geeky. Let’s look at two words used in this verse: variation and change. The Greek word used for variation could also be translated transmutation, meaning the action of changing into another substance or form, similar to metamorphose. Then the word change here means a turning, as of the heavenly bodies, a revolution.
Transmutation or variation is saying God cannot change who He is. He is not changing from a caterpillar to a butterfly. He is God, He was God, He will always be God. Then it says there is no variation or shadow. When I think of a shadow, I think of the appearance cast off from an object, but with no substance. It is ever changing due to the revolution or position of the light or sun (as in the word used in this verse for change).
So here is my poor attempt to paraphrase this verse. Please bear with me.
Do not be deceived, my beloved sisters. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from your Father, the One who has no metamorphosis. He is the Father of Lights. Because He is Light, He cannot have a shadow or an appearance of Himself with no substance which is constantly changing.
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. [1Jo 1:5 NLT]
And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. [Rev 21:23 NLT]
So as life continues to swirl around you, remember our God is good and that He never changes.
Reflection Questions:
- Does change scare you?
- Do the changes in our world today scare you?
- How can the truth that God CANNOT change be a comfort to you today?
Reflection Song:
