“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Hebrew people, presents several distinct and significant portraits of Christ. Of particular note are those of High Priest and the Perfect Sacrifice. Both of these portraits reveal to us the Lord Jesus Christ as the One whose blood was shed for the remission of our sins, sealing and establishing the New Covenant between God and His People. Christ is also the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) who leads and protects His Sheep. But our text paints another portrait of Christ – His immutable, or unchanging, Nature.

What effect does Christ’s changelessness have on us? Why is it of any importance that we know that Christ is immutable? In Christ’s work of atonement, there is a source of comfort, knowing that Christ’s once-for-all Sacrifice has an everlasting effect. Because our Sacrifice is always the same, or unchanging, He is able to perfect “for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14), “having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12).

Because our Sacrifice is unchanging, our salvation is unchanging. We are eternally secure by the Perfect Sacrifice of our immutable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. God’s purpose in saving us is that He be glorified through the Person and work of Christ. This is an eternal purpose, which can only have its truest fulfillment in the Eternal Person of Christ. In securing our eternal redemption, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

As grand as this life may often seem, we must realize that it is soon over. Our appointment with death will come, and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). However, Jesus Christ is still the same loving Saviour that He was thousands of years ago. He is the Immutable Savior.

The truth about Christ’s changelessness teaches us much about the attitude we should have toward life itself. One of the greatest mistakes about religion is to view it as all about the hereafter. Jesus Christ does secure our eternal position in Himself. But we need not lose heart during the raging storms of life and “be glad when it’s all over,” because Jesus Christ promises peace in the midst of storms. Because Christ’s Person is unchanging, His provision is unchanging. In fact, we should realize that Christ is the only stable force in an unstable, ever-moving, ever-changing world.

Because Jesus Christ is unchanging, we can be constant and consistent in living our lives here for the glory of God. The world changes; but our Strength, our Refuge, our Hope is ever the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our Faith in Christ is not based on feelings or emotions that change with the circumstances we are in or the people we’re around. Rather our Faith, and the practical living thereof, is based on the unchanging Person of Jesus Christ

Life can often become dark and frightening. Loneliness becomes a cloud that threatens to suffocate. But we need not to be menaced by fears when we know the comfort of Christ’s abiding Presence.

The Child of God can never be alone, because Christ’s Presence is always with us to help us and guide us so that we may boldly serve the Lord in every situation. Whatever the trial, whatever the need, our hearts may be settled as we look to the love and mercy of our unchanging Lord Jesus Christ.