In the late summer and early fall of 2005, the evil twin sisters, Katrina and Rita, brought life as we knew it along the Gulf Coast to a sudden end. Thanks to the quick generosity and tireless efforts of Christians from around the country, we in Louisiana have rebounded significantly from the devastation wrought by those hurricanes. But when asked if things are back to normal, we describe our situation now as the “new normal.” While our lives have returned to a semblance of normalcy, we have been forever changed and will never again know “normal” as it once was.
Our hymnbooks now fall open to the old Mosie Lister song, “’Til the Storm Passes By.” In an earthly pilgrimage in which the only thing that seems constant is change, we are continuously comforted that an eternal and unchanging God will keep us “safe ’til the storm passes by.” Of course, we understand storm is a metaphor for the tempest created in our lives by sin.
A STAND-ALONE TRUTH
As the book of Hebrews moves to a conclusion, the writer—having exalted Christ as the supremely sufficient Savior of lost mankind—makes a significant statement: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That verse is one of the great stand-alone passages of Scripture, one of those texts that can easily be plucked from its context to become the foundation of a biblically solid sermon or lesson on the eternal, unchanging nature of Christ.
This doctrine is so important that it is a recurring theme in the book of Hebrews. We see it in the opening verses of the epistle where Jesus is described as the creator and sustainer of the universe (Hebrews 1:2, 3). Later, the writer declares that since the priesthood of Christ is permanent, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). He “offered for all time one sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:12), and “will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28). The eternal God who created Heaven and earth stepped into time and space to sacrifice himself in atonement for the sins of man, and he lives to return so that salvation can be brought to its ultimate fulfillment.
Simply put, salvation is possible because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
THE TEACHING IN CONTEXT
Hebrews 13:8 is a powerful statement by itself, but it also expresses an empowering reality when its context is considered. That verse is sandwiched within a list of exhortations to believers, and it may seem completely out of place to the casual reader. But every theological statement or discussion in Scripture is intended to result in some practical, down-to-earth, rubber-meets-the-road expression as that truth impacts the life of a believer. All the theological truths discussed in Hebrews have established the superiority and sufficiency of Christ as our Savior, and now the writer wants us to know the practical effect that unwavering faith in an eternal and unchanging Christ will have in our lives.
• The faith of your leaders. To understand the impact of Hebrews 13:8 in its immediate context, begin in verse 7 with the exhortation to imitate the faith of your spiritual leaders.
Most of us have been blessed to know men and women of God who positively influenced our lives. What sets them apart as worthy of imitation? According to this passage, the people whose faith we should imitate are those who consistently proclaim and live the truth of the gospel to the end of their days, demonstrating that they are led by the unchanging Christ.
Now, if we truly believe Jesus Christ is eternal and unchanging, and if we imitate spiritual leaders and their same conviction, the truth of verse 8 will branch in every direction and will impact every area of our lives.
• Lives changed. Beginning with Hebrews 13:1, brotherly love stands out as a hallmark of a life controlled by an eternal Christ, especially expressing itself in hospitality to fellow Christians and sympathy for those being persecuted. Marital fidelity and moral purity (v. 4) are other important effects, especially in a world where those virtues are increasingly scarce. According to verses 5 and 6, belief in an unchanging Christ is key to living a contented life; such a life is achieved when materialism is overcome by putting our complete trust in God’s promise to care for us.
• Hold firmly to grace. Beginning with verse 9, readers are encouraged to hold firmly to the doctrine of grace when being courted by false doctrine; standing firm is made possible by faith in a Savior who does not change. In this section, the contrast is between the vanity of pursuing righteousness through ritualism and legalism versus having our hearts and minds transformed and our lives energized by trusting in the unchanging grace of God.
• Exalt the Lord in worship. Worship that continually exalts the Lord is, according to verse 15, fostered by faith in the eternality of Christ, as is service to others in verse 16. One final effect of that conviction is the willingness and ability to be submissive to authorities.
EMPOWERED AND DIRECTED
Since “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” there is no area of our lives he will not impact. The exhortations based on this doctrine of an eternal Christ touch our private lives, marriages, church relationships, nonchurch associations, vocations, citizenship, and, most importantly, our eternal relationship with God.
