The Two Immutable Things by M. E. Steward

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 14, 1907

The Two Immutable Things

By M. E. Steward

M. E. STEWARD

Our God not only provided salvation for the human family, but he did everything possible to enable them to accept the priceless boon.

We are admonished to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” The Lord knew that faith must rest on evidence, and he gave the strongest evidences possible.

First, “God made promise to Abraham.” This promise was in itself immutable, that is, unchangeable. But in pity for our weakness he made surety doubly sure, confirming his promise by another immutable thing, which was his oath. God staked his own life on the fulfilment of his promise to Abraham.

And this he did, “willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel,” which was his glorious purpose concerning us: “that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”

The promise to Abraham—being the gospel (Gal. 3:8)—includes Christ and all the provisions of salvation. To him we owe life, both temporal and eternal, with all its privileges and blessings. The promise to Abraham includes every other promise to man, and each one of those promises is confirmed by the two immutable things, the promise and the oath of God.

O, the promises of God! they are indeed a “blessed hope,” which “we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” There we see not only the broken law of God, and feel its condemnation, but we also see Jesus, our “high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec,” God’s own order in the new covenant.

Our Heavenly Father is honored when we take the “strong consolation,” the comfort and courage and strength of this God-given hope; when we accept his promises confirmed by those two immutable things, and anchor our souls in the glad and grateful assurance that Jesus Christ is a wonderfully loving, precious, mighty Saviour.

While our Redeemer is securing our eternal redemption, God’s two immutable things are surety that, meantime, we shall have “all things that pertain unto life and godliness;” that our great High Priest knows and will provide for all our present and future needs.