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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
A few weeks ago I turned 50. Understandably, I’ve been waxing a little nostalgic. As a result, I decided to take a long run around the two neighborhoods I grew up in. While some things looked the same, much had changed. Especially the houses. One of the houses I lived in was barely recognizable to me and in a couple instances, I couldn’t be certain I had identified the right houses my friends had lived in. I kept asking myself “Is that the one? That can’t be it.” I was struck by just how much had changed in just over 30 years.
Of course, Jesus Christ never changes. He is the same High Priest who was preached to the original recipients of Hebrews. The same High Priest through whom all things were created. The same High Priest who lived a sinless life and offered Himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of His people. The same High priest who has been raised and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He will be the same High Priest forever. He is God and God never changes.
I pray I and my fellow pastors have proclaimed and will continue to proclaim this same High Priest to you from the word of God. I pray our faith in Jesus Christ and the lives we live as a result would be worthy of your imitation. I pray that you will remember the faith of your leaders and the fruit that has come from it by the grace of God. I pray that you would not be led away “by diverse and strange teachings”, but that your faith would only be strengthened. I pray that you would take great comfort in Jesus Christ who never changes in the midst of a world of change, change so powerful it can make what we once knew unrecognizable. I hope you will join me in praying for these things.
How beautifully does the hymn “Before the Throne of God Above” by Charitie Lees Bancroft reflect the unchanging nature of our great High Priest? Why not sing it out to God with joy and thanksgiving today?
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
a great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands;
my name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands,
no tongue can bid me thence depart;
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God the Just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me;
to look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness;
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die;
my soul is purchased with His blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God;
with Christ my Savior and my God!
In Christ Our Unchanging High Priest,
Pastor Rich
