No Change Needed

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Much can be said for consistency.

No one desires a car that cranks occasionally, deodorant that works sporadically, lights which flicker intermittently, or a God who changes—ever.

We know we don’t stay the same. We’re good one moment and bad the next. Kind one minute and cantankerous the next. Generous, then selfish. Patient, then pushy. Sweet, then sour. Praising, then pouting. Faithful, then faithless. But our God is not like us. He is not fickle, and He does not flip-flop. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”(Heb. 13:8).

Don’t let familiarity with that phrase lessen its impact. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The eternally-existent God has never had—and will never have—a moment when He is different. “I AM WHO I AM,” God announced to Moses at the burning bush and then further expounded a few months later up a mountain by a rock. “I AM, I AM, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin”(Ex. 34:6-7).

The statement that God will stay the same follows the author’s instruction for us to reflect on the lives of our leaders (Heb. 13:7). Who has God been to them? How has God provided for their needs? Forgiven their failures? Stayed by their side? “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” God will do the same for you. He will provide, forgive, and stick close, for He will never change.

Such constancy brings us comfort. Moods swing. Skin sags. Circumstances shift. The market fluctuates. Incomes adjust. Kids grow up. Loved ones leave. Families fracture. Friends move far away. And we find ourselves continually adapting, modifying, revising, and then changing it all again. But not once, in the many variations of life, will God diverge from His permanent perfection. His love is unfailing, His grace is unending, and great is His faithfulness.

God was. God is. And God always will be.
The same.