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Yesterday, Today, & Forever

Hebrews 13:8 — Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

The ‘memories’ on Facebook that pop up each day capture the history of posts and pictures from the past. It is incredible to look at photos of ourselves or our children and see how much we’ve changed. Sometimes I notice a fluctuation in my weight or facial hair. I definitely notice less gray in my beard and wrinkles in my face. My children take me back to times that are nearly forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the present. The overriding reminder in these pictures is that people change. But this is not the case with God. 

 

Our passage today captures one of the most important doctrines in all the Bible in regard to the character of God. God doesn’t change. The Hebrew writer instructs us that Jesus, God in the flesh, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the same. He doesn’t change. He doesn’t evolve. There is no aging, maturing, or learning. 

 

The unchangeableness of God is stunning. It is called His immutability. This attribute is foundational to our understanding of God for so many reasons. Because God doesn’t change, we don’t have to wonder if His love will shift or fluctuate on us. Because God doesn’t change, we don’t have to wonder if God’s will regarding our lives, our behavior, and our purpose has changed. God’s Word doesn’t change because God doesn’t change. If God forbids that we sin sexually with our bodies, and then outlines what that sexual sin looks like (which He does), then we shouldn’t wonder if God has changed His mind on that at some future date. If God forbids same-gendered sex or sex outside of marriage, then we don’t have to guess whether that still holds true when the world around us is saying those things are permissible. 

 

The same goes for all of God’s promises. If God tells us He will pardon our sins and lead us to our eternal life in the City of God, then He will do it. His mind doesn’t change. And if He tells you He will be with you always, then there is never a moment when you need to guess if that’s true. God never changes. Rest in that today.


Reflection & Journal:

- Why is it an encouragement to us that God doesn’t change?

- How should we respond to people who imply that God’s commands change with the times?

- What are some attributes of God you need to remember today that He still possesses?