A modern writer says, 'More sermons have been preached on this text than any other verse in Hebrews, so that this verse has attained confessional status in the church'. It is a verse many know, even if unsure where to find it. It has been a source of strength and encouragement to Christian believers in every generation. It ought to be for us.
This verse looks back to verse 7: Your leaders have died but remember their example and keep looking to the unchanging Christ. When Christian leaders die there is a sense of foreboding. How will we manage without them? But such deaths serve to remind us where our true focus should be - on Jesus himself. This verse introduces verse 9. If we keep looking to Jesus we will not be 'carried away by all kinds of strange teachings'. There were all sorts of strange teachings around in those days and in these days there are perhaps more than ever. What is the antidote? In many cases they have to be carefully answered, of course, but the fundamental need is that we look away from men, who constantly follow this or that fad, and instead focus on Jesus, who is constant and unchanging. This is a good text for the start of a new year.
THE WORLD CONSTANTLY CHANGES
We live in a world where time is always going forward. The change of the year reminds us of the relentless march of time. People do not live forever. It is, as we often say conscious of the irony, a fact of life. It is because of death, and other factors that, leadership changes. Prime Ministers come and go. In churches there are changes too. If it is not death then something else will call a man away - retirement, ill health, a need elsewhere. Sadly sometimes there are moral falls or doctrinal failings that force removal.
JESUS CHRIST NEVER CHANGES
Although as far as leadership and many other things are concerned there is constant flux, nevertheless Christ never changes. He is constant.
Change: There are obvious differences between Old and New Testament times. Looking forward to Messiah gives way to Messiah's actual coming. There are other differences: before the flood and after; before the Law is given and after; before and after the resurrection; before and after the pouring out of the Spirit; the time when the Scriptures were being written and the apostolic gifts were in evidence and the days that have followed. It is no good simply finding something in the Bible and saying. 'That's what they did then, so it must be right now'. No, there have been changes over the years, different dispensations of God's grace, and the verse is not contradicting that. Christ has existed in different states. Think of his pre-incarnate state in glory, his humiliation (conception, birth, life, death and burial), his exaltation (resurrection, ascension, and session at God's right hand), and his coming return in glory to judge the world and to reign.
No change: Having said all this, as for his attitude of grace towards his people, Jesus Christ never changes. He never needs replacing. If a player in a football team cannot play, he is replaced. Sometimes the replacement is worse, sometimes better. Now with Jesus not only can he never be replaced - no-one is good enough - but he never needs to be replaced. Why? Because he is the same yesterday, today and forever! Even though he died, he lives forever. He is always there. People die. Great leaders go and are missed. We try to replace them. But Jesus will never need replacing. Once you put your faith in him he will be yours forever. What a comfort! Don't forget it. Nothing can be added to his perfect work. Nothing more needs to be done. He has completed the work, Hebrews 10:11-14 makes that clear. Do you realise that he has done it all? There is no need for anything more from us. What a glorious thing is the finished work of Christ!
TRUST ONLY IN HIM TODAY AND FOREVER
The conclusion is obvious.
Negatively, do not look to men. On John Wesley's memorial in Westminster Abbey, it says, 'God buries his workmen but he carries on his work'. We must keep looking to the unchanging Christ and not to men. The best way to think of Christian leaders you admire is to imagine them saying, 'Look to the One who cannot fail, who never needs to be replaced and who is permanently available to his people'.
Positively, look to Christ. That is the obvious lesson. Whatever the situation personally, nationally or in the churches, we must look to Christ. He is the same divine person with the same divine purposes in all generations. Look to Christ for ... help and support in your inadequacy. He will uphold you. He will always be true to himself. power and protection in your weakness. He is always there to defend and protect his people. What an encouragement in every difficulty this is. grace and deliverance in your failure. We fall and fail but he is always there to forgive us and raise us again. He is Alpha and Omega, faith's beginning and end. guidance and consolation in your ignorance. If you go to him you can be sure of finding all the help you need. From the world's beginning it was God's purpose that sinners should only ever trust in one person - Jesus Christ. His will on this has never changed and can never change. Keep looking to the eternal one who never changes. He is worthy of all faith.
