Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

​Meditation
Hebrews 13:8,9--Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.

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There is something powerful to be said about permanence.  The beauty of following Jesus as our Lord and Savior is simply that we can always count on Him.  The writer of Hebrews makes this point before warning his readers not to be led away by “strange teachings.”  

Each week I have the privilege of spending time on the phone with my son-in-law, Mark.  Last week he shared with me about an experience he and my daughter, Sarah, had at a worship retreat.  One of the bands had strayed from sound theology and was espousing bad doctrine.  It bothered Mark and for good reason.

Our responsibility as followers of Christ is three-fold.  We learn from His example as recorded by Scripture.  We believe His teaching.  We apply what He says.  When we stick to obeying Him we have the assurance that He is perfect and timeless. His word will never become outdated or obsolete.  

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat” (vs. 10). Tabernacle worshipers depended on animal sacrifices, rejecting Jesus’ blood.  Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to provide the grace we need to overcome sin and inherit everlasting life with God.  He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).  That absolute statement will never change.  

After Jesus ascended into heaven there were groups who formed who proclaimed Him and tried to blend in Jewish food laws as extra requirements.  This was not to their benefit and confused those who listened to their passionate opinions.  Unfortunately, until Jesus returns, there will always be groups that stray from Jesus’ teaching.  Some will make minor changes and suffer minor consequences.  Others will follow after some newermessiah.  They will claim recent enlightenment that replaces Scripture.  They will turn from truth to heresy and mislead those foolish enough to listen.  Beware whenever you hear some “new” thought that is outside of what Jesus taught because someone added to His words or subtracted from them.  

Our Lord makes it simple for us.  We should never make following after Him complicated.  
 
Inspiration
However far we may drift, we must always come back to these words of our Lord: “I am the way”—not a road that we leave behind us, but the way itself.  Jesus Christ is the way of God, not a way that leads to God; that is why He says—“come to Me”; abide in Me.”  “I am the truth,” not the truth about God, not a set of principles, but the truth itself.  Jesus Christ is the Truth of God.—Oswald Chambers in So Send I You 

©2019 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)