Have you ever stopped and noticed some grey hairs? Maybe some back pain or a lingering injury that just never seems to get better?
People get old and we die. People change: our bodies, our moods, our minds, our friends, our families.
Wouldn't it be nice if it was constant? Take comfort in knowing that one thing in our lives is constant: God.
Imagine that you are in a business deal with someone. Now imagine that person keeps changing the terms of the deal and coming up with this and that excuse. You wouldn't feel too comfortable, would you?
James writes this verse to reinforce to the early church that God can be trusted because He never changes.
God existed before time did. He created both heaven and earth.
He is the same today, yesterday, tomorrow, and even before the existence of todays, yesterdays, and tomorrows! His covenant with humanity never changed and He has always kept His promises to us.
James also wants to remind us that all good things, "every perfect gift," comes from God. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).
What things are you thankful for? What things do you wish you didn't have to deal with?
Consider how lucky you are to exist at all. God made everything. We are responsible for nothing.
This has been true through all time and will forever be.
Lastly, James uses "Father of lights" to describe God. God created the sun, moon, stars, heaven, and earth.
These things are all light, which can also represent goodness. All the way back in Genesis God marvels at the goodness of his creation.
It is the perfect gift to Himself and to all of us. He is nothing but good and we must understand that about him.
