Jesus Never Changes

Hebrews 13:5-8

January 13, 2013

When you stop and think about it, we’ve come a long way! Think about all the inventions and new technologies we’ve seen in our lifetimes. The older you are the more you’ve seen.

In my lifetime, I’ve seen people walk on the moon, room sized computers shrunk down to the size of a Bible. Televisions evolve from a small black and white (with no remotes) to flat screen mega TV’s, we have digital cable and satellite networks; and what would we do without DVD’s, blu-rays and DVR’s.

The old rotary phones are almost obsolete. Now we have cordless phones, pagers and cell phones. We can communicate anywhere and anytime. Add Skype, texting, facetime, facebook to the mix. Of course, we have the Internet, and our reliance on computers and calculators. Not to mention the medical breakthroughs, and da Vinci robotic surgery.

Some of you are saying, ‘Well if you think you’ve seen change, let me tell you a thing or two.

I believe people who are especially 80 and older have seen the most dramatic changes in their lives than in any other generation. You’ve seen cars, planes, rockets, space shuttles, electricity, plumbing, computers, television, telephones, central air, freezers and more. It’s hard to believe that there actually used to be an ice delivery service. I’ve heard stories of people who would run down the street to chase an airplane, they were so unusual.

If there is a constant in our world, it would be change. Nothing we do today resembles what we did 5, 10 and especially 20 years ago. We can argue that change is not good. We all have a desire for things in life to have a consistent, constant rhythm. Even when we fall into the trap of boredom from a normal daily routine, we fight against potential changes.

It’s true in all aspects of life. It’s true at home, at work, at school, at the grocery store who changes up the location of your favorite foods. And yes, it’s especially true at church. We often fight and stamp our feet at the prospect of change. Most churches fight it tooth and nail. Often to their own detriment.

And in the midst of all of this change we have these words from Hebrews 13:5-8,

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

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

Yet, change and Christ, really go together. Change is inevitable and Christ is immutable, never changing. We’re always faced with making adjustments in our lives, because of change. Sometimes our changes are for the worse, and sometimes for the better. But our lives are always changing.

If the many departed saints of First Baptist Church were to return and take a look at all of the changes that have occurred within our church, they would be astounded. They would see new buildings, ministries, faces and equipment. Some may not like them, but many would know these changes have helped equip other saints to carry on the message of Christ. In all of the changes they see — — one thing would remain constant - Jesus. What they would find is a changeless Christ and a forever changing church. Jesus, the same . . . yesterday and today and forever.

My friends, we are asked to believe this powerful statement. No matter where we come from, no matter our job, no matter our weight or height or any other difference that we come up with. Jesus is from everlasting to everlasting. He is God, Yahweh, I am that I am. He is the One who spoke to Moses from the Burning Bush. He is the One who revealed Himself to John on the island of Patmos. He is the Alpha and the Omega. And He is the One who revealed Himself to me and you. And if you don’t know this Jesus, He desires to reveal Himself to you.

In changing times, we can count on a changeless Christ. His power has not changed. He has creative power, He has redemptive power, He has keeping power and He has protecting power.

And for the next few minutes, I want to talk about two types of change. Life change and church change!

When I talk about life change, it’s simply that. Life changes. We get older, sometimes that’s great, sometimes not. As a child, you can’t wait to get older, so you can grow, so you can do more things, stay up later, get your own phone, drive a car, shave, go to college. Those are fun changes. Things we look forward to.