By David R. Ferguson
In Hebrews 13:8, the writer says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." What’s significant about these three time periods the Holy Spirit instructed to be written: Yesterday, today and forever? Why does it matter that the Jesus Christ of today remains the same as the Jesus Christ of yesterday and the time to come?
Yesterday is significant because it’s crucial that Jesus Christ be the same yesterday as He is today, because yesterday was when Jesus Christ showed us historically what He’s really like. The significance of Today is that it’s crucial that Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday, because today is when those of us who are His can have fellowship with Him. It’s how we relate to Him as the person we know by reading about His life and work He accomplished yesterday. Forever’s significance stems from it being absolutely crucial that Jesus Christ remains the same tomorrow and forever as He was yesterday and today, because all our hope for everlasting life and joy with Him hangs ultimately on us being able to relate to Him unceasingly.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. What once was true about Christ always will be true about Christ, so we don’t need or want new doctrine. And what was once satisfying about Christ will always be satisfying about Christ, so we don’t need or want money as the means to lasting happiness. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever – the same truth and the same treasure. He’s also promised to save us. This promise is clear, and it’s also part of what makes Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. Paul wrote in Romans 10:13, "for, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." When a lost sinner comes to Jesus through obedient, saving faith, he’s saved by grace and prepared for Heaven. This, too, is a promise that will never change! Therefore, don’t let the Devil play mind games with you. If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, as the Bible teaches, then you’re saved and going to Heaven. If not, then you need to be saved by doing what the word of God tells us. Receive Him on His terms and be free by having your sins washed away in the watery grave of baptism today. Then you, as did the Apostle Paul, can have the same assurance to say, "For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Since He’s the same, He’ll never lose His saving power! As the Hebrews writer states in Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them."
May the Lord bless you in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life!
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