“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8, RSV)
“The story is told of a man who came to visit his old friend, a music teacher. As the man came in, he said, “What’s the good news today?” The old teacher was silent as he stood up and walked across the room. He picked up a small hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded throughout the room, he said, “That is ‘A.’ It is ‘A’ today; it was ‘A’ 5, 000 years ago, and it will be ‘A’ 10, 000 years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune.” He struck the note again and said, “That is ‘A,’ my friend, and that’s the good news for today!”
The only hope for a world out of tune is to know that Jesus is the truth: “Yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That’s the good news of truth!” (Dr. Clyde McDowell, Focal Point, Spring, 1997, p. 3)
Our world is filled with people who do not believe that anything can last forever. When a product gets old, it is replaced. When philosophies become passé, new ones are dreamed up. As the wisdom of humankind advances, anything is possible. Nothing is meant to be permanent. Sadly, the same attitude has attached itself to Christians as well. Some Christians believe that Jesus was an historical figure, His teachings meant for “His time”. They understand Jesus’ ministry as purposefully set in the first century AD. They do not believe His words were meant for all time. There are also Christians who believe that God changes with time. They point to scriptures like Exodus 32:14, where God changed direction. What they do not understand is that God was affected by God’s people. God’s thinking had not changed. The way God dealt with His people changed because of Moses’ words and God’s ultimate grace. God’s character does not change. God’s law does not change. God’s character does not change. God is eternal.
In modern times, relativism has gripped the thinking of the world, including Christianity. The notion of relativism understands the world as ever-changing. Because of this, relativism teaches that our thoughts and rules and laws and norms must change with time and the situation. Right and wrong are relative, not permanent. Good and evil are relative and change with the circumstances. Our scripture for today flies in the face of relativism. It asserts that Jesus Christ does not change with the times. His message, His ministry, His teachings last the test of time. He was not a Savior “in His day”. He was and is the Savior for all time. Our world needs His saving grace as much now as ever before. Jesus Christ didn’t come to save the world of the first century AD alone. He was meant for our world today as well. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He will FOREVER be trying to save our world, separate good and evil, explain right and wrong.
After seeing changes in the opinions of youth for decades, the Lutheran Brotherhood decided to do a survey to find the opinions of students and teachers alike. They wondered how many believed in the concept of relativism, which goes against Biblical norms. The question they asked on the survey was “Are there absolute standards for morals and ethics or does everything depend on the situation?” “Seventy-nine percent of the respondents in the 18–34 age group said that standards did not exist, and that the situation should always dictate behavior. Three percent said they were not sure. If this poll is correct, 82 percent of all students believe that right and wrong are relative terms and that morality is a ridiculous concept” (Imprimis, August 1998, pp. 4-5). After viewing the results, one teacher wrote: “This is the den of lions into which I walk every day. It is called the modern American classroom.” It is filled full of people infected by relativism.
There are many philosophies and religions that go against God’s way. Chances are you have been exposed or infected by one or several. It is important that you root out worldly philosophies and beliefs. They will conflict with your belief in Jesus Christ. Many of these philosophies and beliefs will even undermine your understanding of Jesus. They will rewrite history and change the character of Jesus to “fit the times”. This is a relativistic concept. It is dangerous.
Many denominations and groups have sought to rewrite the Bible “for modern times”. Sadly, some of these groups have purposefully misinterpreted the Bible or outright changed the tone of certain verses they do not like. The view of any of those who seek to change the Bible to fit modern times is relativistic. It is not godly.
I will close with a warning issued by John of Patmos, who wrote the book of Revelation. These words were penned at the end of the book of Revelation. They were meant as a warning to those who would like to change the words of the prophecy to fit some agenda. In essence, they were written for people who would be caught up in a philosophy such as relativism…..
“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18–19, NLT)
The only hope for a world out of tune is to know that Jesus is the truth: “Yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That’s the good news of truth!” (Dr. Clyde McDowell, Focal Point, Spring, 1997, p. 3)
Our world is filled with people who do not believe that anything can last forever. When a product gets old, it is replaced. When philosophies become passé, new ones are dreamed up. As the wisdom of humankind advances, anything is possible. Nothing is meant to be permanent. Sadly, the same attitude has attached itself to Christians as well. Some Christians believe that Jesus was an historical figure, His teachings meant for “His time”. They understand Jesus’ ministry as purposefully set in the first century AD. They do not believe His words were meant for all time. There are also Christians who believe that God changes with time. They point to scriptures like Exodus 32:14, where God changed direction. What they do not understand is that God was affected by God’s people. God’s thinking had not changed. The way God dealt with His people changed because of Moses’ words and God’s ultimate grace. God’s character does not change. God’s law does not change. God’s character does not change. God is eternal.
In modern times, relativism has gripped the thinking of the world, including Christianity. The notion of relativism understands the world as ever-changing. Because of this, relativism teaches that our thoughts and rules and laws and norms must change with time and the situation. Right and wrong are relative, not permanent. Good and evil are relative and change with the circumstances. Our scripture for today flies in the face of relativism. It asserts that Jesus Christ does not change with the times. His message, His ministry, His teachings last the test of time. He was not a Savior “in His day”. He was and is the Savior for all time. Our world needs His saving grace as much now as ever before. Jesus Christ didn’t come to save the world of the first century AD alone. He was meant for our world today as well. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He will FOREVER be trying to save our world, separate good and evil, explain right and wrong.
After seeing changes in the opinions of youth for decades, the Lutheran Brotherhood decided to do a survey to find the opinions of students and teachers alike. They wondered how many believed in the concept of relativism, which goes against Biblical norms. The question they asked on the survey was “Are there absolute standards for morals and ethics or does everything depend on the situation?” “Seventy-nine percent of the respondents in the 18–34 age group said that standards did not exist, and that the situation should always dictate behavior. Three percent said they were not sure. If this poll is correct, 82 percent of all students believe that right and wrong are relative terms and that morality is a ridiculous concept” (Imprimis, August 1998, pp. 4-5). After viewing the results, one teacher wrote: “This is the den of lions into which I walk every day. It is called the modern American classroom.” It is filled full of people infected by relativism.
There are many philosophies and religions that go against God’s way. Chances are you have been exposed or infected by one or several. It is important that you root out worldly philosophies and beliefs. They will conflict with your belief in Jesus Christ. Many of these philosophies and beliefs will even undermine your understanding of Jesus. They will rewrite history and change the character of Jesus to “fit the times”. This is a relativistic concept. It is dangerous.
Many denominations and groups have sought to rewrite the Bible “for modern times”. Sadly, some of these groups have purposefully misinterpreted the Bible or outright changed the tone of certain verses they do not like. The view of any of those who seek to change the Bible to fit modern times is relativistic. It is not godly.
I will close with a warning issued by John of Patmos, who wrote the book of Revelation. These words were penned at the end of the book of Revelation. They were meant as a warning to those who would like to change the words of the prophecy to fit some agenda. In essence, they were written for people who would be caught up in a philosophy such as relativism…..
“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18–19, NLT)