Recently, my paths crossed with someone I hadn’t seen in a few months.
When I asked her how things were going in her life, she quoted Hebrews 13:8, saying, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
At the time, I thought it was a rather strange response … but now I totally get it.
Nothing stays the same for long in this world, does it?
Unbiblical practices are ever- expanding deeper into our society and that is terrifying.
As I write this, I am watching survivors of Superstorm Sandy relate their experience of losing everything (including loved ones) in the storm that roared to shore one year ago.
My kids are no longer little. They are teens who are taller than me and will soon be out of our home and on their own.
My brother and I took a road trip last week back to our hometown and it seemed that we spent much of our time remarking about how much things had changed.
Some family members were coping with physical challenges while we were there: one cousin was recovering from an extremely painful knee replacement surgery and one aunt had broken her foot in two places. Two active people stopped in their tracks by broken bodies.
We thought often about those dear faces we used to see when we went home who are no longer there to greet us. Their number has grown over the years, causing us to deeply treasure the precious ones who are still with us.
A simple look in the mirror reveals the march of time across my face.
Circumstances have changed over and over through the course of 21 years of marriage. We have moved 11 times and owned four homes.
Trials, both large and small, have been permitted to enter our lives.
Currently, we are in the midst of a doozy, which has left us with many more questions than we have answers, sad hearts, some sleepless nights … and a dogged determination to cling to His Word and what we know is true of His character.
We have learned the art (and gift) of counting blessings in the midst of the hard. (That, by the way, is the key to guard against bitterness).
And yes, there have been many, many moments of joy and laughter.
My point is that life is in a constant state of flux. To search for security on this earth anywhere other than in Jesus is like trying to stand firmly on the surface of a restless ocean.
That’s why Hebrews 13:8 is such a comfort to us when our heads are spinning with the rapidity of change that we encounter on a daily basis.
Our risen Savior NEVER changes. Not one bit. Not ever. Not during job loss, divorce, illness, bankruptcy, funerals, difficult relationships, good times or bad times. He will never desert us. He will never stop loving us. He will never stop doing good to us all the days of our lives and into eternity.
Although we cannot see Him, He is more real than anything we can see or hear or touch.
We can firmly stake our lives on the absolute truth His Word. We can live by His promises. We can see by His Light.
We can visit His empty tomb and see that He has risen.
We live in anticipation of the fact that He is coming back in all His glorious power and every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
—Hillsong
Long after everything on this earth is gone, Jesus will remain.
He is the sure and certain Anchor for our souls as we walk through our days. And when we close our eyes in this life, the first thing we will see as we enter eternity will be His face.
Take some time to really soak in this glorious truth today.
You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish but You will remain. They will wear out like a garment, like a robe, You will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But You are the same and Your years will have no end. —Hebrews 1:10-12