Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever”.
Our world is changing so rapidly and the media attempts to dictate that we should change with it and conform to its new ideology. Jesus, our Pattern Man declared: “My kingdom is not of this world”, John 18:36. Jesus’ primary goal and thoughts in His earthly journey were always to “live His life to an audience of One”, to please His Father in all He said, and did.
Romans 12:2 instructs: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.
God makes that instruction very clear: Do not be conformed to this world. We are responsible in our walk with the Lord to let God be true in our lives.
The gospels are full of records of Jesus mixing with the world of sinners in corruption, tax collecters, prostitutes etc. They were changed and healed as they responded to Him, but He never changed, or altered His standards. The world of this dispensation we are living through is attempting to change the Church to fit into its ever changing standards.
God’s inspired word, the Bible, is our handbook for life. There is a very clear warning at the end of the book, Revelation 22: 18-19, not to attempt to add, or take away, in other words, change, these scriptures. In today’s world the warning has clearly been disregarded.
Jesus declared that we are IN the world, but not OF it. John 17 records the prayer of Jesus for the disciples and all Believers. Praying to His Father, we read His words: John 17: 14-22, “I have given them Thy word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through your truth, your word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on Me through their word. That they all may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us…….And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them”.
The glory Jesus speaks of here, is the anointing of His presence, Christ in you, manifest. (It differs from the glory spoken of in Isaiah 42:8 when God declares: “……My glory will I not give to another”. This glory is the credit due to His Holy Name for who He is, and all He does.) In our earthly journeying we have to learn to be a carrier of this presence Jesus prayed for us. If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can learn to respond to situations under His direction, instead of reacting in our old nature and ways. If we do not learn to live in His presence, controlled by His peace, then we cannot carry this precious gift in our birthright in Christ, to the world. If we are not living in it then the world will change us! Jesus carried the presence of His Father into the market place of the world, and sinners were changed for eternity who responded to Him. Jesus never changed.
The Spirit of Jesus Christ has not changed. Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same. On our journey we have not yet entered into the fullness of our birthright, but in humility we can daily make right choices and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and another measure of the fullness of Christ will be our portion.
“Live, and let die” is the title of an old Beatles song, also the title of an old James Bond film. Just think about the phrase: Live, and let die. I am called of God to live in His presence, the rest of God described in Hebrews 4.
Exodus 33: 14 The Lord declared to a fearful Moses: “My Presence shall go with You and I will give you rest”. There is a peace in His Presence likened to a spiritual thermometer registering direction by the Holy Spirit. It can also be compared to a traffic light signal, there is an amber light warning before it turns red. If not heeded and one continues through a red light, calamity unfolds! We have to learn sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s promptings as we learn to live our lives to the glory of God. After we enter into the door of salvation we are no longer here to serve ourselves. All the self life has to change. Live, choose Life in Christ, His new creation in me, and let die the old self nature. Paul said we die daily. There is a daily dying to do as we prefer others before ourselves, surrender our will and exchange it for God’s. As we are exercised in this we will find the joy of God as the words of Jesus, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done”, become an acquired taste and lifestyle. Yes, it is possible, many others have trodden this unpopular, narrow path and experienced the companionship and fellowship of our wonderful Saviour and Friend, lighting the way and amazing us with the joy of His Presence.
Choose Life! Live, and let die…..the self life. Do not be conformed to this world and its ways, but be transformed by the One who never changes…Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever! Hallelujah!
