As I grow older, the degree in which our society has changed becomes more evident. Comparing my childhood times to today’s times is an eye opening experience.

To give you one example of this great change please watch this old-time commercial about the radioactive woman on youtube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q1gksqqhLU&feature=related

Incredible isn’t it?  This commercial emphasizes one of the good changes that has taken place in our society over the years, a much better understanding of the medical effects of radiation upon man.  This increased medical knowledge, has brought about an increase of health, nutrition, medical advances which have allowed us to live longer, healthier lives.

In spite of all the beneficial changes that have taken place, there are many changes that seem to have only brought harm to our society.  Throughout the years, there has been an obvious decline in morals, a diminishing respect for Christians and their foundational beliefs, a breakdown of the family unit… the list goes on and on.

The same social advancement that has brought us a changed society, has also brought us a world that is unrecognizable in many ways.   Just think, in my day, vinyl records were commonly used to record music.  In my early teen years 8-track tapes were used; these were followed by cassette tapes, compact disks, and now ipods.  In fifty short years, there have been 5 different devices used to store music. Things have changed so much that many are now unrecognizable.  A vinyl record is totally different from an electronic ipod.   Anyone unfamiliar with both couldn’t believe they perform the same function.

Yes, I can sincerely say…. “My, How Things Have Changed.”  Many things may have changed but there is One that has not changed, nor will He ever change. The Word of God tells us about Him….

THE SCRIPTURE:

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

(Heb 13:8)

THE STUDY:

Paul, as He is writing to Jewish believers, emphasizes that their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, never changes. As Paul describes it, He is the “same”.  The term “same” in the Greek language is a term related to “breath”.  The idea is that Our Lord will always have breath, be alive, never decaying, never decomposing.  He will always be “the same” as He is now.  Quite unlike each of us, who someday will stop breathing, and begin a decaying process that will change our entire physical body.

Notice how Paul emphasizes the “sameness” of Christ in the past, present and future.  What a blessing it is to know that the same Christ we learn about in the Bible, is the same Christ that exists today, and is the same Christ that will exist in the future.  Again, the emphasis is on “no change” throughout eternity. This Hebrew passage is not the only passage that teaches us our Lord does not change. (Please read Psa 90:2, Psa 102:27, Isa 41:4, Isa 44:6, Mal 3:6, Jam 1:17, Heb 1:12 etc, the list goes on and on.)  All these verses, and others, not only teach us about His unchanging character, but also the importance of understanding and acknowledging this truth.

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Think about what our life would be like if our Lord did change.  He could change His mind about His Word;  all of His promises to us would have to be questioned, we couldn’t know if He was still keeping  them.   What about His power?  Our once supreme controller; He now may have lost His control to Satan, demons, or even lost mankind.  Or maybe, the One who hears us as we call upon Him, may decide to “take a day or two off” and no longer “take our calls”.   What would our lives be like if the One who is ever with us, may desert us choosing to spend time with another?   Or worst of all, what if the One who loved us, may transfer His love to another, leaving us destitute, and hopeless, awaiting divine judgment?

But thanks be to our Lord, He NEVER varies nor does He perish . He can be relied upon as the same Lord and Savior throughout the ages; past, present and future.   He never changes.

For any who have not trusted in Christ as their Savior…  Think what it is like to have a never changing God who promises to be the ultimate Judge of all men’s lives.  To be prepared to stand before His ultimate Authority, we must receive His forgiveness for the times we have failed Him.  This forgiveness is granted to us freely, simply by placing our trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  (for more info please read Eph 2:4-10)

As believers, we need to always have thankful hearts because He does not change.  He can ALWAYS be relied upon, both for this life and for the eternal life to come.

May the Lord bless your study of His Word.

Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”