Blessed Immutability!

Hebrews 13:8

Everything changes. Nothing remains the same. Sometimes the changes are delightful. Sometimes they are almost unbearable. But change is inevitable. Winter turns to spring, spring to summer, summer to fall, and fall to winter again. Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. In this world there is nothing solid, stable, and substantial. Everything we grasp is air. Everything we seek is vanity. Everything we build upon is sand. Everything in this world that gives us joy will, in time, cause our hearts to break with grief! “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity!” That is not the cry of hopelessness and despair. That is just a statement of fact. “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity!”

Is there no solid rock upon which to stand? Is there no immovable anchor by which we can find stability? Is there no sure foundation upon which to build? Blessed be God there is one! ― “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” The Lord Jesus Christ never changes! He upon whom we have set our hearts, he who is the Object of our faith, he who sits upon the throne of the universe, never changes. Our Lord Jesus Christ is immutable. He cannot change or be changed. He is always the same. What does this mean?

Yesterday and Today

All that our Lord Jesus Christ was yesterday, he is today. All that he was in the yesterday of eternity past, he is today. Was he the object of his Father’s delight before ever the world was made (Pro. 8:30)? Then he is the Father’s delight today. Was he the Bearer and Dispenser of all the blessings of life and grace before the world began (Eph. 1:3-6; 2 Tim. 1:9)? Then he has all life and grace in himself today, to give it to whomsoever he will.

All that he was yesterday, in his life upon the earth, he is today. He was tender, kind, sympathetic and approachable then. And he is exactly the same now. He was the one in whom God was well pleased then. And he is the one, the only one, in whom God is well pleased now. He was made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption then. And he is made the same to us now.

All that he was in the yesterday of more than 2000 years since he ascended to the throne of glory, he is today. Did he take dominion over the universe as King? He is still reigning today. Did he send down his Spirit upon his church? He is still sending down he Spirit today. Did he do mighty works yesterday? He is still doing mighty things today.

All that Christ ever has been to his people yesterday he is to his people today. All that Christ ever did for his people yesterday he does for his people today. And the only reason you and I ever look back to a yesterday that appears to be better than today is that we fail to trust Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. If we did not fail to trust him, today would be but a new revelation and a larger experience of the grace revealed and experienced yesterday. All that Christ was yesterday he is today.

And Forever

Our all-glorious Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever! All that he is and has been he will forever be; and all that he will be forever, he is at this moment. All that he is to your soul and mine, he will be forever. And all that he will forever be, he is right now!

Try to grasp this. — All that Christ will be in the fullest revelation of his glory and grace in heaven, all the inconceivable closeness of love and communion, all the indescribable excellence of our union with him in heaven, all that he can in eternity be to me, he is to me, and to all God’s elect, right now! Amid all the changes that take place in this world and in our hearts, here is a message from God containing joy and strength which nothing can take away ― “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Today

“Today” ― I love that word. Jesus Christ is immutable “today!” “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” I want you to know, trust, and love Christ today. Look not to yourself, your fickle feelings, or your unstable works. Trust him who changes not. Build upon this sure foundation, and you shall live forever. ― “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Read verse 7. ― “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” The apostle admonishes us to remember those men who have preached the gospel to us and to follow their examples of faith and faithfulness, keeping our hearts and minds fixed upon “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” If we would believe God, obey the gospel, and be faithful, we must ever look to Christ (Heb. 12:1-3).

Look at verse 9. ― “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them which have been occupied therein.” The admonition here is to doctrinal steadfastness. If our hearts are established with grace, firmly fixed upon the doctrine of the grace of God, our hearts must be fixed upon the immutable Christ.

Do you see how everything is built upon, flows from, and points to Christ? Christ is the source of all, the foundation of all, the center of all, the object of all, and the end of all. In the life of a believer, in all true doctrine, in all true faith, in all the church of God, Christ is all. And he is immutable. He never changes!