The One Thing That Never Changes

Clearly some things must change – for – “…there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…”  (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  

But if I had my druthers – some things would never change.  I mean if I was in charge of the universe – my kids would always live in Frederick, MD.   If I was in charge of the universe – I would always be able to eat the same amount of ice cream and never get fat.  If I were in charge of the universe – my kitty cat Melinda would never grow old, always available to cuddle with me.  

But unfortunately – I am not in charge of the universe – and so things do change.  

Even icon structures like the Rock of Gibraltar.  Why as early as 1906 sea-captains noticed enormous silver colored patches gleaming in the sun, on the eastern slope of the famed Rock.   The patches? Forty feet square segments of thick, strong cement, placed there to shore-up the Rock’s surface – so huge spurs of the Rock would not tumble into the sea.  For in spite of its invincible, unchanging appearance, even the Rock of Gibraltar is slowly deteriorating, crumbling and falling away. (http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-) 

But back to my original contention – can’t there be something that never changes – something that will not deteriorate – that will not crumble – that will not fall way?

Well friends there is – but it’s not the Rock of Gibraltar, but the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ.  For Jesus Christ, in the words of Hebrew 13:8 “…is the same yesterday, and today and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8) – or in the expanded rendering of The Amplified Bible -- Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless – always--] the same yesterday and today and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8, The Amplified Bible).  

Thus the writer of Hebrews goes on to counsel:  “Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace…”  (Hebrews 13:9, The Amplified Bible).   Now the diverse and strange teachings lifted up in Hebrews 13 are the requirement that believers affirm Jewish ceremonial foods to be fully saved.  But there are other diverse and strange teachings -- such as the belief – that because life is changing – life is hopeless.  But friends: life is not hopeless, because life is changing – because one thing never does change – and that one thing -- is Jesus.

Thus Jesus admonishes in John 15:4 – “…remain in me, as I remain in you…”  (John 15:4).  For “…I am the vine and you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; [for] apart from me, you can do nothing…”  (John 15:5).   

Did you catch that?  Apart from Jesus – we can do nothing.  Including surviving the throes of change.  Thus we need to remain in Jesus -- abiding in Jesus -- like branches to a vine – finding our nourishment in Jesus.

Once missionary Hudson Taylor, worried himself sick, amid the changing circumstances of his life.  Hearing of Hudson’s plight, John McCarthy, a fellow missionary, reached out Taylor.  My dear Hudson, the secret is this – it’s “…abiding not striving…looking unto [Jesus] -- trusting [Jesus] for present power…[for Jesus is] the only ground for unchanging joy (http://blog.godreports.com/2013/08/3937/https://verticallivingministries.com/2012/07/14/how-j-hudson-taylor-learned-how-to-abide-in-christ/ 

And so -- abide -- don't strive.  For it's true:  Jesus in the only ground for unchanging joy -- because Jesus is the only thing that never changes.

And so as everything else changes -- cling to Jesus -- who is the Rock of Ages.   Solid -- secure -- supreme -- Sovereign -- forever!