“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13.8.)
Introduction. It is well that there is one person who is the same. Your raptures and ecstasies may have turned to depression and forebodings. Alas! for our changes, and hallelujah to him that has no change. Kingdoms have trembled; the whole world has changed. As the anchor gives stability to the ship, even so does our hope give stability to our spirit when it fixes itself in the truth of our text.
(1) Explanation. Jesus Christ is the same in his person. We change perpetually. We begin in ignorance, grow up learning, attain some knowledge, then totter back to imbecility. One moment we are holy, kept through God’s power; the next minute we are sinning, led astray by our lusts. Our Master is pure, firm, ever the same, never changing. He is as loving, approachable, generous, and kind as when he first visited earth, unchanged by all his glories, triumphs, and joys. He is the same as ever with regard to his Father. He was his Father’s well-beloved before all worlds and while he was on the cross, and just as much now as then. By trusting him you may be sure of the Father’s love to you. He is the same to his people as ever. We have delighted to think of him that loved us when we had no being. He may distress us with a sense of sin, yet his heart is just the same to us as ever. It is written, “As the Father hath loved me, even so have I loved you.” A higher degree of love we cannot imagine. He cannot love you more; he will not love you less. He is the same to sinners as he was yesterday. He that received the thief upon the cross is the same today as he was then. Oh! come and try him! You that are empty, Christ is as full as ever. You that are black with sin, the fountain can still purify. He is the same in the teachings of his Word. They tell us that the improvements of the age require improvements in theology. But theology can have nothing new in it but that which is false. The preaching of Paul must be the preaching of ministers today. Knox’s gospel is my gospel. A mongrel mixture of Arminianism and Calvinism is the delight of the present age. But Christ has not changed his doctrines. They shall not be removed or altered. This is equally true of the promises and threatenings.
(2) Objections. Unbelief says, ‘How can that be true? Surely God has changed: look at the saints of old. What happy men they were!’ If there be any change it is for the better, for you have not yet “resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” But remember that does not affect Christ. It is true that your child has not been raised from the dead, but neither was David’s. Your days are no more full of trouble than the days of Job. Your troubles are proof of Christ’s faithfulness. You have one half of his legacy: tribulation. And you shall have the other half: peace. With regard to ministers, the day may be dark, but not so dark as days have been. You that are sick, the day is coming when you will find that the flame has consumed your dross and refined your gold.
(3) Lessons. Set not your affections on changing things. Put your affections in Christ, your hope in his glory, your trust in his efficacious blood, and your joy in his presence. Trust him who will go with you through the black current of death’s stream. Trust all your concerns with him who will never leave you, and who will never let you leave him. Next, imitate him: be ever the same. With more faith, you would be as happy in the furnace as on the mountain; you would have far less of tossings up and down. Come what may, while Jesus Christ is the same, you are safe.
Selection from Conclusion. “Sinner, he will be as good as his word. He has said, ‘He that believeth not shall be damned.’ He will damn you if you believe not, depend upon it.”
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