He Remains The Same

Eastford Baptist Church

October 26, 2006

He Remains the Same

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

One of the reasons we have trouble communicating with kids these days is because they speak a different language. And from my point-of-view, it’s the computer’s fault. Computers have changed everything in our culture – especially the meaning of words. For instance, when I was growing up, a keyboard was the wooden board by the door with cup hooks where you hung your keys as you came into the house. Today any kid will tell you a keyboard is a user interface device. When I was a kid, a cursor was the mean guy the next farm over who used to yell a string of profanities because I tried to sneak into his fields and fish from his pond. Today’s kids know it’s the little blinking icon on the screen. The Internet? That was where the lunchroom lady, kept her hair, “in-ter-net.” Any cyber kid can tell you a URL is a Uniform Resource Locator. When I grew up, URL was the kid who sat behind me in Math class (Earl). A browser was a lady who’d go into a store and just look around for hours without actually buying anything. Today it’s a program to link you to the internet. A hard drive used to be a trip anywhere with all the kids in the car teasing and picking on each other. Today, kids will tell you a hard drive is a device used to store data, and it’d better have at least 80 gigs – (and gigs aren’t for fishing any more!) I can remember when cookies were the round, sweet, home-made treats kept in the large pickle jar in the cabinet. Computer kids can tell you cookies are frequently visited websites. A chat room was where all the ladies in town went to have their hair done once a week. Today it’s where folks go for a real-time IM communication experience with people all over the globe. (and IM doesn’t even mean “I’m” anymore). Modem? That’s what we did to the yards when the grass got high. (Sorry, couldn’t pass that one up!) And today anyone can tell you that a search engine is a program to link you to other links. For me growing up on a farm, “search engine” is what I did when I was told to make sure the tractor was full of water and oil. Thumbnails used to be what you hit with the hammer when you didn’t aim properly. Today thumbnails are condensed images on a page on your computer. (and pages have absolutely nothing to do reading a book!)

Life is full of change. Language changes. People change. Our circumstances change. Sometimes change comes so drastically and suddenly that we, who tend to be creatures of habit and comfort, become frightened and distressed. But the verse above says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Why is it important for us to know this? Because there is a stability in the unchanging nature of Christ that can not be found anywhere else. When our present feels shaky and our tomorrow uncertain – Jesus is the same. He is the same today as he was yesterday. He was and is the eternal Word of God, who from eternity past has been the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature. Before light was spoken into existence he could see our fallenness and still determined to lay aside the independent exercise of His own divine nature, take on the form of a servant and become obedient to the point of death (even death on a cross). It was his plan yesterday that his resurrection power would bring victory over death and sin. It’s still his plan today. It was his plan yesterday that we would be set free from the bondages of the world, the flesh, and the devil and experience his kind of abundant life. This is still his plan today. He is the same today as he will be forever. It is not a different Christ who will come on a white horse, to judge and wage war; His eyes a flame of fire and many diadems on His head, and clothed with a robe dipped in blood and on his thigh written, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!” It is not a different Christ who will receive the title deed to the earth since he alone is worthy. It is not a different Christ who with his blood purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and caused them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God. It is the one who remains the same – yesterday, today and forever.

Though the world may change – He remains the same. No matter how uncertain your world may seem at this moment – His plans for you have not changed. Neither has his ability to bring to bring you from defeat and frustration into victory. His power is the same today as it always has been and as it always will be forever. His love is still free. His mercy is still new every morning. His grace is still sufficient. Always has been. Always will be. One day he will take these bodies of ours and upgrade us to be like Him. Until then we will not fear the changes of today or tomorrow, for He is unchangingly faithful. He remains the same.

Looking forward to my new and improved upgrade,PT

This Week @Eastford Baptist:

* If anyone would like to host a gathering for the seniors at their home on November 17, please contact Irene or Roy Adams at 974-1519.

* Christmas Choir will be rehearsing at 6:00pm Sunday, in the sanctuary.

* Worship Team will be rehearsing this Friday evening at 7:00pm. After this week, the worship team rehearsals will be every Tuesdays at 7:00PM

* This Sunday Evening, we will be joining with other churches in the area for a community prayer meeting. This prayer meeting will be held at the Congregational Church of Eastford this Sunday evening at 6:30PM. PLEASE NOTE: This meeting was previously advertised at 7:00PM – the correct meeting time is 6:30PM

* Don’t forget to “Fall Back” one hour this weekend. Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00am this Sunday morning.

* Steve and Sally are moving boxes to their new home this Saturday. If you can lend a hand, please plan on being at the Rempel’s home at the Baptist Camp Saturday morning at 10:00am or contact Steve & Sally at - Home - 974-2241 or work - 974-6012.
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