"Mutations"

 

“Mutations”

 

It was in my high school biology class that I first learned about mutations. The scientific definition I found on line was complicated so I’ll go with the dictionary’s meaning: “Any heritable (i.e. transmissible) alteration of an organism”. The how, when or why can’t be accurately predicted which explains the difficulty health care professionals have in providing vaccines for COVID and seasonal flu bugs. They do the best they can but their work could be described as educated guesses.

The term mutation comes from the Latin word mutationem which means “a changing, alteration, a turn for the worse”. (Online Etymology Dictionary). Words translated “change” in Hebrew and Greek have the basic meaning “make different”. While some changes are God-ordained (e.g. “…You are not under law, but under grace.”—Romans 6:14; “…I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah….”—Jeremiah 31:31) there are some things that never can or will be different. God said through His prophet, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) and spoke of His Son in Hebrews 13:8; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (The jawbreaker theological term for this divine attribute is immutability, meaning unable to change for better or worse.) And what about His Word? The psalmist wrote, “Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.” (Psalm 119:152) which Jesus confirmed when He said, “…Until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18, emphasis added throughout).

A number of hymn writers have emphasized God’s changeless nature. Examples include “Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.” (“Abide with Me” by Henry R. Lyte); “As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.” (“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm); “From Everlasting Thou are God, To endless years the same.” (“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts). In these changing times we can rely on our changeless God who “,,,will never leave (us) nor forsake (us),” (Deuteronomy 31:6) and “,,,is faithful….” (1 Corinthians 1:9) in every way.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan