Hebrews_13

Scripture

Hebrews 13:8

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

Observation

The author stresses in the verse prior to this one love and trust in one another and in the leaders of the church. They reminds the readers of the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, and while things on earth may change, Jesus never does.

 

Understanding

God is faithful, no matter the amount of times we change.

I can’t tell you how many times I change my mind within the first few hours of waking up, let alone the whole day. “No I’m not going to get out bed, but I need a degree to get a job… this top or this one, no I think I’ll go with a flannel… should I turn the alarm off or go back to sleep… toast or eggs for breakfast, both, but I had that yesterday… maybe if I just sit on my bed a little longer the seconds will slow down too…” This all goes through my head and I haven’t even gotten up to turn on the light in my bedroom. Yet if anyone was to question my competence, I would tell them with complete confidence that I trust my own opinion and I am somewhat confident in my abilities. Even though I can barely decide whether or not I should get out of bed! People can say all they want about my morning decisions, but there’s one thing I would hope that people will say of me long after I take my last breath: that I was convinced of the faithfulness and goodness of God, that I followed Him no matter what through every season of my life.

Because I know that surely God had has followed me. He has been the one thing in this life that has been the most consistent and constant thing. Something that actually blows my mind is the fact that it doesn’t matter how many times we change, God doesn’t. He’s the one thing that doesn’t have to evolve or adapt to circumstances, instead our circumstances should bend to His will and way. Yet somewhere we’ve swapped this way of thinking. We’ve told ourselves “I have to get with the times or I’ll be left behind,” but it isn’t worth it! Not then and not now and not ever. Why? “Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Honestly someone should make that a sign or something ;)

 

Life Application

Focus on the one thing.

Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:13-14—

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

We can trust in the assurance that God never changes, so we must therefore focus our attention on the one thing that will remain long after we are gone. The past is gone and the new is coming, let’s strain for the prize that is heavenward and not one bound by the earth.

-Allison Khan