THE JOY OF CONSISTENCY!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)

MEDITATION:
Do you consider yourself a ‘creature of habit’? Whenever anything
messes up your routine, does it upset you? There is just something
about staying in a familiar environment, isn’t there? When things
remain the same, we can have a comfortable feeling, can’t we?

During my work career there were times whenever I would become
bored. Things would become kind of monotonous, and I felt I wasn’t
being challenged. When that happened, I would start looking for new
projects to work on.

However, when the challenges of the new project became overwhelming,
I would think to myself,
    “Why wasn’t I content with things remaining the same?
      Why did I tackle this new project?”
But after the new project was finished and implemented, at some point,
I would start getting bored and go through the same cycle again.

There are some who are content with doing the same job for their entire
career. They benefit themselves and are an asset to the company because
they have become experts in their jobs. In addition, they didn’t subject
themselves to the same pressures that I periodically created for myself.

When it comes to salvation, aren’t you glad it doesn’t go through cycles
of change? The reason we can be comfortable with the requirements of
salvation is – the plan was created by an unchanging God and included
Jesus, His unchanging Son.

The scriptures remind us that Jesus is the same today as He was
yesterday, and the same as He will be tomorrow. If He was not the
same, then we would have concerns about God’s plan of salvation,
wouldn’t we?

If God’s plan of salvation was not consistent, then we would spend
our lives trying to keep up with the latest changes. As a result, we
wouldn’t spend an adequate amount of time getting to know Jesus,
who is the only way to salvation.

Without dedicating time getting to know Him, we wouldn’t be able
to develop His qualities in our own lives. We would also miss out on
discovering God’s plans for our lives, and we wouldn’t become a part
of His earthly ministry team.

There are some who don’t like God’s salvation plan, so they concoct
other ways to achieve salvation. This has led to the creation of many
different ‘religious sects’ with misguided ideas which causes confusion
for a lot of people. We can’t use God’s Word as our guide and overlook
this important verse:
    Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the
    life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
    (John 14:6)

We can see the reason God, Jesus, and the plan of salvation never change.
If Jesus was someone different tomorrow, then what assurance would we
have that the Jesus from yesterday was the One who died on the cross for
our sins?

If He didn’t remain consistent, then how could we be sure that He was
resurrected on the third day and is now with His consistent Father in
heaven?

The plan of salvation was not an emergency plan created by God
and implemented due to the sins of mankind. He established His
plan from the beginning of time and it will remain the same until
Jesus returns.

All other things may change, but Christ remains unchangeable.
Whenever our lives are in turmoil, we know we can call on an
unchangeable Savior who is steadfast and consistently welcomes
all who will turn to Him.

We are living in an age of God’s grace – a time when He promises
salvation to any who choose to believe in His Son, that He died as
a living sacrifice for our sins, that He arose on the third day, and
He is with our Creator today.

However, we are living on borrowed time because this period of grace
will not go on forever. There will be a time when the promised return
of Jesus will occur and mankind will no longer have an opportunity to
make a choice of surrendering their lives to Him.

Only God knows when it will happen, but when it does, Jesus will take
the consistently faithful home with Him to live forever, and all others
will be cast into an eternity of suffering. It is the same fate for any who
die without a relationship with Jesus, and our Heavenly Father.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Do I have a consistent faith in a consistent Jesus?
    – Do I believe God has a consistent plan for salvation?
    – Do I think it’s important for Christians
       to live a consistent life of faith?
    – What is my fate when Jesus returns, or when I die?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being an unchanging God.
Your consistency assures me that I can depend on Your plan
for salvation. Because Jesus is unchanging, I believe that He
is Your Son and He died for my sins. Thank You for being the
God of mercy and grace Who desires that none should perish,
but that everyone will join You in heaven for eternity. Help me
to live a life that demonstrates a consistent faith in Jesus and
Your plan of salvation, so I can be a consistent witness for You.”

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