“Who Can I Trust in an Ever-Changing World?” (Billy Russell, 05/17/20)

The World is Different, Jesus is the Same

                    “Who Can I Trust in an Ever-Changing World?”

 

   “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

           

The world is different; it has changed! “The New Normal” (Ed Young, Jr.)

      The world is obviously different! “Get used to different” (The Chosen)

     “Where else can we find something to believe in?” (ESPN commercial)

 

Following Jesus in changing times looks like (Heb. 13:1-7):

        *Keep on loving one another (13:1)              *Practice hospitality (13:2)

        *Remember persecuted friends (13:3)          *Honor marriage (13:4)

        *Be content and freed from money love (13:5)

        *Be confident of God’s presence and help (13:6)

        *Remember your leaders and imitate their faith (13:7)

 

Who can you trust in this ever-changing world? Jesus Christ! (13:8)

        v.8 gives a gnomic truth, a truth that doesn’t change, an everlasting

              truth; a truth you can depend on today and tomorrow.

 

     “Jesus Christ”- the why/how you can go through these days is based

             on the Who: “Jesus Christ”- affirmation of His divine Person/Role.

                                                                                                  (Mt.1:18-21)

     “... is the same”- w/o variation; constant, unchanging (immutable).

 

     “yesterday”- days before, even before yours; pre-existent days or days

              in His flesh, or reference to both? Yes.

 

      “today”- this day, right now, this moment (their crisis then, ours now).

 

      “and forever”- through all the ages (eternity), time without end! The

        revelation of Jesus is “final, never to be superseded or supplemented.”

 

What does “Jesus is the same” mean for us living in pandemic days?

   Jesus is constant in a world of change. He is unchanging/immutable.

   Jesus is with us in our now moment of crisis. He is Immanuel. (Mt.1:23)

   Jesus is supremely trustworthy. He will see us through the ages! (Mt.28:20)