Christ Forever

By Jerry D. Ousley

            “Nothing lasts forever …”  a cliché statement that defines anything made by man.  It is true; what we make will eventually fail.  Our metal is subject to rust, or to wear out after continued use.  Our clothing will become thin over time and will eventually give way to holes.  That’s why I am very leery of computer-controlled, self-driving vehicles.  I work on computers.  If they didn’t wear out and come to an end there would be no need for my job.  I don’t want a computer-controlled vehicle, hurtling down the road at high speed in my direction to suddenly fail because of a computer malfunction.  Not a good situation.  Tires get old and blow out.  Machines short-circuit and fail.  Everything man makes, regardless how good it may be, will eventually become faulty.

            Our human bodies wear out.  I can attest to that first hand.  I am rapidly nearing 70 years old at the time of this writing.  I have arthritis that comes with age.  My hair is very quickly turning white.  My eyes aren’t as good as they used to be.  When I bend over it hurts.  I can’t run anymore.  Some of it is because of choices I’ve made over the years.  But some of it is also just plain old wear and tear that comes with age.  If the Lord delays His return, one day this body will fail and I will die and my soul will go to its eternal reward.  It really isn’t sad, but simply a fact of this life.

            That’s all the bad news.  The good news, however is very good news.  The writer of the Book of Hebrews stuck a verse in the last chapter of the letter that when read with the verses around it seems out of place.  It is Hebrews 13:8 which says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  That’s it. The verse before it has nothing to do with it but speaks about remembering those who rule over us.  The verse after talks about being deceived by false teaching and the heart being established by grace and not temporary foods.  Why then would God have the author of Hebrews out of the blue, write these words?  Here’s what I think; despite leaders, food we eat, or what we believe, true or false, it doesn’t change the matter that Jesus Christ – the Messiah – the Son of God – God in the flesh – never changes.  He’s been around since the beginning in the Godhead (John 1:1-3).  He’s seen all man’s successes and failures.  He’s witnessed all the wars and destruction, the hate and evil that comes from the hearts of men.  He knows what each one of us thinks, how we feel and what we really need in our lives.

            Through all the ages of the past, the present and those that may or may not come, He is the same.  He doesn’t change.  His love has never failed and never will. In the original Greek it is said this way: “Jesus the anointed (Christ) yesterday and today the same and into the eons.”  It means He never wears out. He never gives up.  The grace He gives is always extended until our very last breath. Regardless our sin, our disobedience and our rebellion, His love is steady.  It will not fail or wear out.

            Does this mean that regardless what we do, whether we come to Him or not, that we are okay?  No, it does not. We have a choice.  Jesus Christ is the same.  He stands waiting to receive us if we only ask.  But if we don’t then we have made the choice.  It isn’t His fault but ours.  God doesn’t send anyone to hell.  We send ourselves there if we refuse to accept the sacrifice He made in the death and then resurrection of Jesus Christ.  You see, He is the same.  He stands ready to receive us.  He is ever present to forgive our sin and cover us with His own righteousness.  He has paid the price for the penalty of our sin with His own blood.  He’s made the way.  There is only one requirement for us to be saved.  It isn’t living a good life, though that’s a good thing.  It isn’t being such a good ole’ boy that we would give the shirt off our backs to help others.  It is only in our choice to accept Him as Savior or to reject Him.  Yes, it is that simple.

            It is a free gift.  But as with any gift, if I wrap it up in pretty neat paper, and tie a beautiful bow around it to make it as appealing as possible and hand it to you, if you don’t reach out to take it in your hands and receive it, then the gift is wasted.  It is like that with Christ.  He is handing you the free gift of salvation, forgiveness of sin and the chance at everlasting life – that your soul, even after physical death, will live on with Him.  If you receive it then you are saved.  If you refuse it then you have turned it down, and traded it for the opposite of everlasting life – everlasting death.

            The choice is yours.  What will you choose?  You can say “I don’t believe in the Forever Christ.  It isn’t real.  It’s all made up by man as a way to control others.”  You are free to believe that.  But is it wise?  Think about it.  Is it worth it?  If you are right and I am wrong, the only problem I have is that I’ve lived a good life and done right by others.  Not so bad.  But if I am right and you are wrong, the consequences are much more severe.  Is it worth the risk?  Search your heart.  That Eternal Christ will speak to you if you will just listen.  Then you have a choice to make.  My advice?  Choose wisely.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.?  Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.