People often say that change is the only constant, and in a fallen world marked by decay and transition, that observation holds true. No matter how much we try to resist it, slow it down or control it, change still comes.
Relevance refers to the usefulness or importance of something within a given moment. But because the world is always shifting, the things we depend on don’t stay the same. What once shaped entire generations can become a footnote in history, and what seems essential today may one day be forgotten. Time exposes the instability of all created things.
Changing World
When we trace the story of humanity, we see a long pattern of change. Each era had its own form of relevance—its own tools, ideas, and values that shaped daily life. Yet now many of those once‑essential tools and ideas sit behind glass in museums or rest quietly in history books, reminders of their irrelevance today.
In the Stone Age, stones were essential for survival. As human skill grew, the Bronze Age introduced stronger tools, followed by the Iron Age, which reshaped warfare, agriculture, and society. The Classical Age brought the influence of Greco-Roman civilizations, shaping philosophy, government, and culture across much of the then known world. The Middle Ages followed, marked by the rise of new religious orders and a renewed hunger for learning.
The Early Modern Era ushered in scientific discovery, political reform, and cultural transformation. And the Modern Era continues that trajectory with ideals like liberty, equality, democracy, and scientific advancement.
Across all these eras of human history, one theme stands out: relevance shifts with time. What once defined a generation eventually fades, reminding us that nothing in this world remains constant.
Within American culture, generational identity illustrates how temporal values rise and fall. Baby Boomers emphasized diligent work and public presence. Generation X developed independence and intellectual strength. Millennials pursued collaboration and meaningful impact while navigating emerging societal pressures. Generation Z, shaped by digital technology, tends toward optimism yet hesitates in risk‑taking. These differences remind us how quickly societies change and how deeply those changes shape life.
Changing Self
When it comes to our personal lives, change is unavoidable. We change physically as we age. Our tastes shift. Our opinions develop as we learn new information. Our responsibilities increase, our relationships evolve, and our understanding of the world deepens. The things that once defined us may no longer fit, and the dreams we once chased may give way to new ones. Change is woven into every part of our human experience.
But Scripture shows us that not all change is merely natural. God also brings about a deeper, supernatural change in those who put their faith in Him. This is not gradual moral improvement but a decisive act of God. He creates a new man within us, reshaping our identity, and renewing our purpose. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
God also calls us to continued change: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
This is sanctification—God’s ongoing work of reshaping our thinking and desires according to His Word. We are no longer to be molded by the world’s values but continually renewed so our lives reflect the perfect will and character of God.
The Unchanging God
As we look at the constant change in the world, in our culture, even in our own lives, a natural question arises: where can we find stability? If everything around us shifts and everything within us evolves, what can we anchor our lives to that will not move?
Scripture points us to a foundation that does not change, and that foundation is God Himself. The Bible affirms His immutability: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). This means that across every era of human history—from ancient civilizations to the digital age—Christ has remained unchanged. James reminds us that God does not shift like shadows (Jas. 1:17), and Malachi declares that God’s unchanging nature is the very reason His people are not consumed (Mal. 3:6).
If God changed according to human trends, morality would collapse into chaos and truth into relativism. Right and wrong would shift with public opinion, and the standard of righteousness would be no more stable than the culture that shaped it. What is wrong today could be declared right tomorrow.
But God’s character is steady. His standards are firm. His Word is reliable. In a world where everything else shifts—cultures, opinions, emotions, and even our own lives—He remains unchanged. And because He does not change, He alone is the safe and trustworthy foundation on which to build our lives.
Build on Christ
Knowing that the world is constantly changing—and that we ourselves are constantly changing—we would be wise to anchor our lives in the One who never changes. Jesus explains this wisdom:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”—Matthew 7:24-27
Both houses faced the same rain, rising streams, and strong winds. The difference was not the severity of the storm but the integrity of the foundation. The wise builder hears Jesus’ words and puts them into practice, establishing his life on Christ. The foolish builder hears the same words but ignores them, building his life on his own understanding that fails.
When we build our lives on Christ—the unchanging, eternally relevant Rock—we gain a foundation that will not shift when life does. The storms will come, the winds will rise, and the pressures of life will press hard, but the Rock will not move. The hymn “On Christ the Solid Rock” captures this truth so clearly: “On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
When we look at the things people often build their lives on, we see how fragile they really are. Intellectualism shifts with new theories. Education can become outdated. Achievements fade. Pleasure is temporary. Wealth can disappear. Fame is fleeting. Beauty changes. Health can fail. Atheism offers no anchor beyond the self. All these grounds are sinking sand.
A person who doesn’t depend on God’s unchanging principles but sets his own inevitably harms others. In a marriage where the wife submits to her husband but the husband—called by God to lead under Christ—submits to no one, not even God, becomes self‑centered and domineering. This also is sinking sand.
In most professions, staying relevant is part of the job. People pursue more education, attend conferences, or earn new certifications to keep up with the industry. But this mindset becomes dangerous when Christians apply it to their spiritual lives. Instead of holding firmly to God’s unchanging truth, many reach for whatever seems culturally relevant in the moment. But cultural relevance is unstable—shifting with trends, opinions, and social pressure. As a result, some believers have embraced modern ideologies that contradict Scripture, while others have affirmed behaviors that God’s Word clearly identifies as sin. No life, family, society, or church can stand on a foundation that moves with every cultural wind.
But God’s Word is established, firm, and eternal. It does not need updating. It does not lose relevance. It does not bend to cultural expectations. Because Scripture reflects the unchanging character of God, it remains true and trustworthy in every generation. When Christians chase cultural relevance instead of biblical faithfulness, they build their lives on sand—foundations that cannot hold when the pressures of life or the winds of culture shift.
Build on Christ.
Is God always relevant?
Can we trust God to always be relevant? Absolutely. His Word is truth. His Word is established and defined. His Word is forever. Scripture affirms this certainty: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Everything around us may change, but God’s Word remains unchanging, authoritative, and eternally reliable.
The psalmist echoes this truth: “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160)
Before you build your life on anything, ask yourself:
- Has it been established by a trustworthy authority?
- Are its boundaries clearly defined?
- Is it sealed as eternally true?
These are the questions that expose weak foundations and point us back to the only One who meets all three.
Scripture tells us: “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).
We know that God does not evolve, grow, or learn. There will never be a moment when God discovers new information that requires Him to change. So then what do we make of the moments in Scripture where God “relents”? How do we reconcile an unchanging God with passages that describe Him responding differently in different situations?
In Exodus 32:14, after Israel’s sin with the golden calf, Moses interceded and the Lord relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened. Also in Jonah 3:10, when Nineveh repented, God withheld the judgment He had warned of.
These are not contradictions. They confirm God’s consistent character—He is merciful toward the repentant. Micah 7:18 tells us that God delights to show mercy. These passages use human language to help us understand God’s actions, not to suggest that His nature changes. God does not act in ways that contradict His character.
The same is true in Genesis 18:20–21, where God tells Abraham He will “go down and see” whether Sodom’s sin was as great as the outcry that had reached Him. God did not lack knowledge of Sodom’s affairs; He was communicating in a way Abraham could grasp. This was God accommodating human understanding, not God being insufficient in knowledge.
God’s character never shifts. His mercy is not a change of mind—it is the steady expression of who He has always been.
Christian parents bear the responsibility of grounding their children in the unchanging truth of Christ and His Word. This is the most enduring investment they can make—one that outlasts achievements and inheritances.
Children are instructed in Proverbs 22:28 to not abandon the “ancient boundary stone,” symbolizing the established truth handed down by faithful parents. These boundaries are not burdens—they are evidence of God’s faithfulness to previous generations. Before rejecting the truth passed to them, children should consider experiencing the goodness of God for themselves, as Psalm 34:8 invites: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Those who do will discover that God is the same yesterday and today—unchanging in His character, His goodness, and His truth.
Anchor your life in the unchanging relevance of Jesus Christ. The world around you will change. You will change. Your circumstances will rise and fall. Your education may become outdated. Your beauty will fade with time. Your health may decline. Your wealth may be spent. All of these things can be true, yet none of them determines the stability of your life if your foundation is the ever‑relevant One—Jesus Christ. When God becomes the source of your relevance, you gain a fixed point of reference that does not shift with circumstances. Build on Him, and you will stand when everything else changes.
God’s Word has proven relevant in every generation—past, present, and future. When you build your life on the ever-relevant Scripture, you anchor yourself to a truth that speaks with authority in every season of life. The Word that sustained believers before you is the same Word that will sustain you today and in the days to come.
It is relevant when you are in need and when you have more than enough.
It is relevant in seasons of sorrow and in moments of joy.
It is relevant when you feel weak and when you walk in victory.
It is relevant when you fail and when you succeed.
It is relevant in sickness and in health.
Because God does not change, His relevance does not fade. His Word remains a trustworthy guide at all times.
Amen.
