Hebrews 13:8 shares an extremely important characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ. He never changes! He is that same today as He was in the days of Moses and the times of earthly ministry. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
What a blessed thought! Jesus doesn’t change on a whim; He was, and is the same, as He always will be. There is no need to wonder how Jesus would deal with us today or tomorrow or ever. He has said in His Word that He never changes, and therefore if the Bible states that Jesus is a certain way, you can depend on that forever!
One of the most important benefits of His immutability is that I know that Jesus will always forgive my sins if I ask Him because He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever”. 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If He promised to forgive sin in New Testament times, then He’ll continue to forgive me today and throughout the rest of my life whenever I ask Him! His faithfulness never changes.
Furthermore, another important consideration is that there is no need to wonder if something that was considered sin in the Old Testament is still sin in the New Testament or in current times. The Lord doesn’t change His mind anything in His Word, including sin. About Himself, God states in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…” There is not greater comfort than to know that God never changes; He truly is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
There is no other person in this world to whom can be attributed this comforting characteristic. It is unique to Jesus. People may be kind to others one day, and on another day, they may alienate those same individuals. Even dear friends or family members can suddenly become distant and aloof over a simple squabble. But not Jesus. He never changes, and He said in Jeremiah 31:3, “…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…” His love for you and me will NEVER change!!
There is no greater comfort than knowing that in this world of perpetual change, Jesus Christ is the One and only constant, and in that we find our blessed hope for today and forever!
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
(from “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” – James 1:17
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Once again, I have expounded on some thoughts shared with me by my dear friend, Barb Depew. If this keeps up, I’ll be calling her “my muse”! Seriously, I am so grateful for her spiritual insight and her willingness to share those thoughts with me. Love you, Barb!