For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:13–18)
The author of Hebrews says that God was determined to show more abundantly, more convincingly to us, who are the heirs of promise, of salvation, His unchangeable character and Word. God confirmed His Word with an oath! He spoke, and He swore! Humans understand what it means to swear by something or someone higher than oneself, therefore, the Most High God swore by Himself! He is the Lord; He does not change! Throughout the ages, His Word has been found true! Scripture says, “remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:7–8 ESV). The Word is the first immutable, unchangeable thing! Jesus says, “for assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). In this statement, He gives us understanding of Himself and an unshakable confidence in His Word! Therefore, He, being His Word, can never fail us! John, the beloved, also says, “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1–5). The darkness has never been nor will ever be a true competitor with the Light!
In embracing the immutability of God’s Word, we also see His durability in our life as we walk hand-in-hand with the Son of God, experiencing that same durability in all our situations and circumstances. Because of the immutability of God’s Word, every believer in Jesus Christ has no reason to waver! For example, Abraham, having received the promise that he would be the father of nations, though childless, did not waver even at the age of one hundred years or at the deadness of Sarah’s womb who was ninety years old. Scripture says, he did not waver or stagger at the promises of God but hoped against hope. “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.’ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:13–15). God gave a double assurance to Abraham that not only did He speak what was immutable, but also swore that Abraham would have blessings throughout eternity and a seed that would endure every satanic attempt to destroy it. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are seed of Abraham. Let us ponder what God did for Abraham and us: He spoke, and He swore! Enough said!
Let us look at a third unchangeable thing. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:5–6). Enoch is not an often talked about character in the Bible, but he is very important! Although his story is short, it is highly significant. The Scripture says, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death.” He is the first person who walked with God in such a manner, that God did not allow him to experience physical death. The Scripture says, “’and [he] was not found because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, [this record], that he pleased God.” We must never take pleasing God lightly! God was so pleased with Enoch’s faith that He took him to paradise without experiencing physical death. The writer of Hebrews says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” It is impossible to please God without faith. Therefore, we must always approach the Lord in faith, trusting, believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. To have this kind of faith, we must know God’s character and rely on the truthfulness of His Word! We know Him through His Word and through the indwelling Holy Spirt whom He has given to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
These three things are unchangeable: God’s Word, the oath He swore to Abraham, and He who comes to God must believe that He is, that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!