The trust fall is a team-building exercise often used in corporate training. The exercise attempts to build trust as an individual falls backwards and trusts a group or other individual to catch him before he hits the ground. It requires risk and faith. The Christian life is in many ways like a trust fall. Charles Stanley said, “Basically, there are two paths you can walk: faith or fear. It’s impossible to simultaneously trust God and not trust God.” Sometimes we find ourselves already in a freefall, but at other times, God may ask us to do something that requires risk. We are faced with a decision to follow our fears or follow God.
The Biblical meaning of “trust” is the belief in the reliability, strength, truth, or ability of something or someone. It allows us to have hope in something that is contingent or in the future.
We describe a trustworthy person as someone with high integrity and good character. People can let us down, though. Sometimes people are flighty or simply change their minds. People can get distracted or be forgetful. Some are weak or just plain deceptive.
Can you imagine a friend who is always trustworthy and unchanging? That would be impossible for any human being, but Jesus testified that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). God alone is completely unchanging—immutable. He is steadfast and constant, entirely reliable and perfect. He is also eternal: “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end” (Psalm 102:27). Although ancient Israel deserved destruction for its sin, God was faithful to His covenant with Abraham: “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end” (Malachi 3:6). God will not change His character, and His character cannot be changed.
There are a few verses that could be construed as the Lord changing His mind. If you take time to analyze these scriptures, you will find that God’s purpose did not change. Instead, it was the willful spirit of the people that changed. An example is when Jonah warned the wicked city of Nineveh that God would judge and punish them. When they immediately repented, God did not punish Ninevah: “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10). God by His nature is loving, kind, and merciful, rewarding good with good. His character is to be fair and just.
The unchanging nature of God is significant to the believer and unbeliever. To a Christian, God’s immutable nature brings comfort. The believer can rest in the many promises God has shared in His word, in His Spirit, and through His ancient prophets. To the unbeliever, it means certain judgment. When God says, “The person who sins will die” and “The wages of sin is death,” He means it (Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23). All He desires is that we believe and accept His Son as our Savior and Lord, trusting Him with the most precious things we have. Our Lord is the same yesterday, today and for always, and He loves us with an everlasting love (Hebrews 13:8, Jeremiah 31:3). We can trust Him.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 26:5-8
Personal Application: If you put all your trust in Jesus, you will find rest. When things get tough, you have a choice: Will you choose the path of fear or the path of faith? What do you need to trust Him with today?
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5