The Same Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Today, we live in a world where changes are made every day.

In the past 50 years or so, we have seen more changes – and dramatic changes than all those that were made in all the centuries before that time.

Little more than 150 years ago, people were in awe of the “horseless carriage” replacing the previous mode of travel – horseback, or a carriage pulled by actual “horsepower”.

Of course, now we know that horseless carriage as the automobile – which of course, increased the speed of travel greatly.

And, in the air, up until 1903, (123 years ago) when the Wright Brothers made the first successful flight. Even then, no one would have dreamed that we could fly through the air at 600+ miles per hour.

Further, less than 100 years ago, this thing commonly known as TV became a reality. Now we could sit in our living room and see what was happening anywhere in the world – just as it was happening.

And, now, men are walking on the moon; there are plans now for astronauts to spend extended time living on the moon.

Everywhere we look, somewhat unbelievable changes are being made, and who knows what will come as we continue into this 21^st century.

People are changing. The world is changing. Customs and Morals are changing.

We are all changing as we learn new things, as we grow older, and as we adapt to the changes which come into our lives.

But there is One who never changes.   Jesus Christ – the same yesterday, today, and forever.

One poet wrote these words in regard to the changeless Christ:

“Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide in me.”

Let’s look at some things that DO change.

NATURE CHANGES

We can see clearly that God created a beautiful world for us to live in. I think, as we look at the world He created, that He wanted us to enjoy what is beautiful.

And, as He created this world for us to live in, He gave us variety – we have mountains, valleys, plains, oceans, and rivers.

His world is also always changing. When was the last time you saw the same cloud on two different days? On what day did you see the sky stay the same all day long?

God created seasons – in the Spring everything turns green; summer brings living things in bloom; in the fall the leaves fall – trees are bare. Winter brings cooler air.

So, nature changes every year, just as God planned it.

And people change as well. Some for the good and some for the not so good.

NATIONS CHANGE

Look at the nations of the world and their leaders. Such as: Egypt – the Pharaohs; Rome – the Caesars – Assyria, Babylon – all gone.

The rulers of those nations or empires have all been abandoned. They only lasted for a short period of time; and others took their place.

Look at where changes do take place – some for good, others, not so much.

Only one of the rulers of nations has not changed, and that is the rule and the reign of Jesus Christ.

SCIENCE CHANGES

Research by scientists changes almost daily with newfound information. A textbook used in schools in outdated in just a few years.

A negative that results from scientific changes is that some people put their faith in science rather than in the hands of our unchanging God.

FAMILIES CHANGE

Children grow up and leave the nest. They go off to college; they marry and begin a new family; divorce breaks up a family.

Death breaks up families. At family reunions, there will be new family members, and there will be family members who have passed on.

FRIENDS CHANGE

When you live in a certain place for a few years, you make friends; some of those friends will be so close that they become like members of the family. You spend time with them. But lives change and often those friends will need to move away from their home. You still have contact with them, but over time lives become busy and adapted to the new location, and you grow apart.

There is one friend whose location never changes. This friend sticks to us closer than a brother. He is our Forever Friend – Jesus Christ.

In a changing world we can be thankful that God has provided for us a Savior – a Friend – who never changes – one who sticks closer than a brother.

For 2000 years people have been trying to destroy this Friend.

Yet, He is still here, and those people are all gone.

Every attempt to destroy Jesus Christ has failed. All his critics in the past are gone – dead.

Jesus Christ still lives – not in buildings of wood and stone – but in the hearts and lives of those who claim Him as Lord and Savior.

HE NEVER CHANGES

He never changes in His love for His followers.

He was willing to allow every drop of blood to leave His body, because He loved us so much.

John 15:13 tells us: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

But, what is even more amazing is that He didn’t just lay His life down for His friends. He laid His life down for all of mankind – even for those who rebelled against Him and took His mortal life away from Him.

Our Savior’s love is also a pardoning love.

Remember what He said – what He prayed – as He hung on the cross as He hung there – dying. He prays for His executioners.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

We hear His promise of salvation to any who would obey as we look at what Isaiah writes: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Jesus never changes in His power.

Hear, as He speaks in Matthew 28:18: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

That power was in effect then – centuries ago, and it is just as powerful today as it was then when He spoke it.

So, what powers does He possess?

He has power to save. There was a man  whose purpose in life was to eradicate the worship of Christ from the face of the earth. He hunted down Christians with the intent to kill them.

Could Jesus Christ save such a man – one setting out to kill everyone who followed Jesus? We only need to read a large portion of the New Testament to know the answer to that question.

That man, set upon killing Jesus became, of course, Apostle Paul.

Jesus used His power to save Paul who became one of the greatest preachers the world has ever seen.

Jesus is willing to save us from sin – past, present and future.

Finally, we must see that Jesus never changes His purpose for us.

He came to this earth to bridge the gap between God and man.

He came to die – to die to save the lost – that through His death we might live forever.

Hear what Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

Jesus stands before all of mankind and says to us: “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” – Revelation 22:17

It cannot be denied that Jesus came into the world to reveal to us what God is like, and to set an example for us, and to inspire us to love one another and to serve one another.

But His main purpose in His coming was to save us. This is the heart of the Gospel.

And the arms of Jesus are long enough and strong enough to reach down to the lowest depths and lift us up to eternal life.

It is our task in life to give Him our best in love and service to Him who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.