By Broderick Greer
It is hard for mortals to wrap their minds around the idea of eternity. Our mortal life has a beginning, and it has an inevitable end (cf. Hebrews 9:27). Almighty God is different though. He exists from “everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2). God simply exists. He exists without our help or aid. He exists in eternity. He simply IS. It is difficult for us to comprehend this truth, but it is indeed that, truth. Along with God's eternal nature, is His consistency. His inherent unchangibility, if you will. This attribute is hard to understand also. Why? Because we live in an ever changing world. Paul even said, “The scene of this world is passing away" (1 Corinthians 7:31). Since this world is quickly passing away, yet God is eternal and unchanging, it is very important that we look to His everlasting word (Psalm 119:160). How does God’s unchanging nature affect us (Hebrews 13:1-8)?
God wants us to show special honor and respect to those who are a part of His family (cf. Galatians 6:10). I am not sure whether we realize that all the time though. The Hebrew writer says to let brotherly love continue, and to show hospitality to those whom we do not even know (13:1-2). It is imperative that Christians be willing to spend and be spent for the cause of Christ, and for the welfare of others (2 Corinthians 12:15). That means showing love to our family in Christ, and to be sympathetic and understanding with their faults and needs. To let “brotherly love continue,” we must be able to stimulate others to love and good works, pray for their growth in Christ, and do all in our ability to encourage and build them up. This special relationship exists because of the eternal God’s love and care for His children (cf. 1 Peter 5:7). Throughout eternity, He has provided “rain from the heavens and fruitful seasons” (Acts 14:17), and He is the Giver of every “good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). His amazing and matchless love pushes Him to look after us. Since this quality of love is eternal with God, it should exist in Christians at all times.
The inspired writer holds back no punches when he states, “Let marriage
be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for
God will judge the sexually immoral [fornicators] and adulterous”
(Hebrews 13:4). God has always
had a divine standard for marriage (cf. Genesis 2:24).
From the very beginning of
humankind, He designed it to be between one man and one woman for life.
This is God’s eternal and
unchanging requirement for marriage. The
Savior only mentioned one exception for divorce (cf. Matthew 19: 1-9).
God’s teaching concerning
marriage and procreation has never changed, and never will.
The writer continues by instructing disciples to keep themselves “free from the love of money” and to be “content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5). This has always been God's standard for money. When speaking to ancient Israel, He commanded them not to have any other gods before Him (Exodus 20:4). That included the god which is the love of money, and all things temporal. Since Christians serve a God who is eternal, it is inappropriate for us to put our trust and affections in things that only last for a little while. A Christian’s confidence says, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:6). Those who put God’s kingdom and righteousness at the forefront of their every action and thought will never have to worry about material things (cf. Matthew 6:24-33).
The inspired penman gives us the answer: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8)! Since Christ never changes, His standards have never changed. He still expects us to live by His perfect words which Peter called the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68). God’s unchanging principles still leave with us a special responsibility of service and action. It is up to us to implement these everlasting principles into our daily lives.
These facts pose a very important question that is absolutely “un-get-aroundable” – “So what about the Old Law? If God is unchanging, why are we under a new covenant?” Great question! God will always be the same. As we noted a moment ago, God is who He is from everlasting to everlasting. There is no time with God. His attributes and qualities are unchanging. He is loving, merciful, holy, gracious, benevolent, forgiving, and these will never cease with Him. Nonetheless, God's methods of communication to His people have changed throughout time. One writer put it this way, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2). During the time of Jeremiah the prophet, Jehovah promised to establish a new and superior covenant with the house of Israel(Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf. Hebrews 8:1-13). This new covenant was realized and established through the shed blood of His Son (Matthew 26:26-28). Does this make God inconsistent or unreliable? By no means! God is one who has always kept His promises, and He has never changed in this regard. His covenant with ancient Israel was contingent upon their faithfulness to it. They did not fulfill their part of the covenant, so God did exactly what He promised to do! He is still the God, who delivered Israel from the clutches of a tyrannical pharaoh. He is still the God, who established a messianic covenant with Abram. He is still the God, who raised up judges to lead Israel in ways of righteousness. He is still the God, who demands holiness of His servants. He is still the God, who expects unaltered and unwavering allegiance from all those who would call on His name. He is still the God who loves and cares for those who stubbornly follow after their own lust and desires. God has never changed, and I am grateful He never will. This fact brings a sense of security and comfort that only an unchanging and consistent heavenly Father can. If you live by the eternal words of the eternal God, you will inherit eternal life!