The Father of Truth

He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:17b-18 NLT

James, after he encourages the believers to remain strong by reminding them that God’s presence is with them, now he tells them that the same God is immutable and trustworthy. He is the Creator of everything and “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” God’s being, nature, and character are unchangeable. “I am the Lord, and I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). While the creation itself is subject to change but not the God who created it. The God who loves us has an abiding interest to His children, “And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” He chose us and saved us providing us new life through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. From a previous life dominated by sin that “gives birth to death” (James 1:15), to a new life “by giving us his true word.” After giving us new birth through the word of truth, He sealed us to be His prized possession through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul told the believers in Ephesus: “You heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people” (Ephesus 1:13-14). What an honor and privilege that God despite our unworthiness because of sin, made it possible for us to be identified with and to belong with Him. This is why we should never consider and think that God will ever lead us astray. Let us not even dare to imagine that when things go wrong that God is not good, and even sometimes to say it! Such thoughts should be immediately removed for it could lead to severe doubts that can destroy our joy and eventually our spiritual life. Let us find strength and be refreshed by the truth of His Word: “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession” (James 1:17-18).

Blessings,