Uplook - March 14, 2026
Greetings to all,
It is not too often that we have snow, rain, hail, and sunshine all within a 24-hour period but today was that kind of day.
Someone has said that the only thing constant in life is "change". And from a day-to-day practical perspective it may often feel much like that is true. Different school schedules, different menus, different traffic, different challenges, and the list goes on and on. In many ways change can be annoying or frustrating but occasionally downright frightening. When Costco changes something they have always stocked, we are annoyed. When we go to a place of business or perhaps a medical provider and find that they have changed their hours of service, we can feel frustrated. And when we find that those upon whom we depend for life giving support have changed their phone numbers or locations, it can be frightening.
Consider the words of the prophet Malachi:
"For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6
The context of the verse is a Messianic prophecy of the coming of a messenger preparing the way before the LORD. The LORD will take residence in the temple as the one who gave the covenant. He will refine, purify, and purge His people so their offerings will be righteous. (They were not) He will also come near in judgement and witness against a variety of abominable actions including sorcery, adultery, liars, and those that oppress employees, widows, orphans and others from outside Israel without fearing God.
So...the LORD's mercy and lovingkindness will never change just as His justice and judgement for evil will never change. He does not acquit the wicked but exacts righteous judgement. Without it His holy character would be impugned (lack integrity). And so, it is this LORD who came in human flesh offering Himself as sinless ransom for human sins and sinfulness. Not only do the sons of Jacob need not be consumed but you and I also need not be consumed and die in our sins. Because the LORD does not change...His justice has been satisfied by His mercy/love in Christ's crucifixion. And if we will only repent and believe, this mercy is freely extended to us.
We need not fear all the change around us as long as this one thing, the LORD, stays constant. In that we can rejoice.
God bless you all.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
It is not too often that we have snow, rain, hail, and sunshine all within a 24-hour period but today was that kind of day.
Someone has said that the only thing constant in life is "change". And from a day-to-day practical perspective it may often feel much like that is true. Different school schedules, different menus, different traffic, different challenges, and the list goes on and on. In many ways change can be annoying or frustrating but occasionally downright frightening. When Costco changes something they have always stocked, we are annoyed. When we go to a place of business or perhaps a medical provider and find that they have changed their hours of service, we can feel frustrated. And when we find that those upon whom we depend for life giving support have changed their phone numbers or locations, it can be frightening.
Consider the words of the prophet Malachi:
"For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Malachi 3:6
The context of the verse is a Messianic prophecy of the coming of a messenger preparing the way before the LORD. The LORD will take residence in the temple as the one who gave the covenant. He will refine, purify, and purge His people so their offerings will be righteous. (They were not) He will also come near in judgement and witness against a variety of abominable actions including sorcery, adultery, liars, and those that oppress employees, widows, orphans and others from outside Israel without fearing God.
So...the LORD's mercy and lovingkindness will never change just as His justice and judgement for evil will never change. He does not acquit the wicked but exacts righteous judgement. Without it His holy character would be impugned (lack integrity). And so, it is this LORD who came in human flesh offering Himself as sinless ransom for human sins and sinfulness. Not only do the sons of Jacob need not be consumed but you and I also need not be consumed and die in our sins. Because the LORD does not change...His justice has been satisfied by His mercy/love in Christ's crucifixion. And if we will only repent and believe, this mercy is freely extended to us.
We need not fear all the change around us as long as this one thing, the LORD, stays constant. In that we can rejoice.
God bless you all.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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