Jesus Christ; The Same

 

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

          Our Lord Jesus is referred to by many different titles, such as Saviour, Redeemer and Lord, and His character is also described in many ways. For example, in John’s writings, he refers to Jesus as, Jesus Christ the Righteous, the Faithful Witness, the First Born from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. In our text today, we could add another description of His character, and that is one that should fill our hearts with great assurance and hope; Jesus Christ, the Same.

          The fact that He is the same, forms a very solid basis for my sense of security in life. He is the same. He has never changed, not in any way. Every yesterday of my life, He was there, and He was the same as He has always been. His heart of love that pursues me, and His calling on my life have never once wavered. I have wavered; I have not remained the same, I have not been steady but, thankfully, He has. My past was never lived without being under His watchful and closely kept eye. Regardless of the circumstances, I know without a doubt that He has been faithful to me, and that faithfulness is the very definition of remaining the same. Jesus Christ the same, yesterday.

          What about today? Can we bank on the fact that He is the same right now? Yes, we can! He is the same compassionate God who created the universe to begin with. He is the same One who longed for a relationship with mankind, and thus made us in His image. And, of course, Jesus is the same Man who walked through this life ministering and unveiling the heart of God to all. He is the forgiving One. He is the healing One. He is the Restorer of lost souls. He is the Master coach, who mentors and guides us into a life of victory over trouble. Jesus Christ the same, today.

          What He was yesterday, and what He is today, He will remain the same forever. Throughout the ages He will always be the One who loves, leads, lifts, and loosens. He loves us in our lowest points, and He leads us into His perfect will. He lifts us from the deepest and darkest of pits, and He loosens us from the chains that have bound us and held us captive. Through this life and the next we can rest assured that He will never change. Jesus Christ the same, forever.

          Different branches of the church believe that what Jesus once did, when He lived and walked among us, as recorded in the Gospels, He does not do anymore. The day of miracles is past, they say. If that is true, then this verse is not true, because this verse assures us that whatever He has done, He is still doing today because He is the unchanging One. He still heals the sick and suffering ones. He still has compassion on the weak and the poor. He still shows mercy to all who cry out to Him. He forgives the sinner. He restores the outcasts. He welcomes those who have been rejected and ostracized. He feeds the hungry, He clothes the naked. He shelters the homeless. Jesus proclaimed that God had anointed Him to preach the gospel to the poor, he had sent Him to heal the broken-hearted, and to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Thank God, regardless of our actions or failures, this one truth can be completely relied upon; Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!