God Changes His Mind

"Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you."

 - Jeremiah 26

God never changes. This is true. Then, why is it so common for Him to change His mind, over and over again, in the Old Testament?

A friend of mine lost his faith, because he was troubled that Christ did not return during the lifetime of the Apostles, as He "promised" to do. But God promised a lot of things in the OT, things that would be bad. He promised judgment and eradication to the people of Israel. He pronounced curses and death for they that would not obey. But then, again and again, He turns, repents, and does not follow through on His warning. 

He acted like a parent. A true parent. 

Why do parents change their minds? Because they love their children, unconditionally. "I will love you . . . even if a have to break a promise, I will love you still. I will always put you first." Wow. No conditions. Really. No conditions. 

God did not judge, condemn, and destroy the world, followed by the return of Christ, by 100AD, because He loves us. He changed His mind before. He'll change it again. There must have been something in those early Christian generations, that He liked. Or maybe He knew that it was critical that every generation believe, with conviction, that He was coming back soon . . . . even if that "soon" did not relate directly to Peter and his friends.

God changes His mind. And that's a good thing.

Today is the feast of Stephen. Boxing Day. Go out and do good today. Love today. Be urgent about it. Why? Because Jesus is coming back. Not will be coming back. Is coming back.