Sick And Tired

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

- St. Paul, Hebrews 13:8

"Though you have changed a thousand times, God has not changed once."

- Charles Spurgeon

Two months ago, Lou Pavlov, my next door neighbor, died. He was 94 years old and had worked his whole life as an international reporter and writer for the Associated Press. Lou had been present… with paper and pen in hand… to record some of the greatest events in modern history. We didn't have a water-cooler, but we did have a mailbox we shared… and it was there that I heard first-hand about the Berlin Wall coming down, about the Bay of Pigs disaster, about an insider's take on John F. Kennedy's assassination. Lou was articulate, brilliant, seasoned in the ways of the world, unfiltered… and he was my friend. He called me "The Vicar," and he assured me that he and God were on good terms. The point is, I miss him. I wonder… Do you ever get sick and tired of saying, "Good-bye?"

We live in a world where the only thing constant is change… transition… fluctuation… unpredictability… variation… uncertainty… where forces beyond our control keep us suspended in a reality that's nothing less than transitory.

Everything is moving beneath our feet. Our lives are in a continual state of flux that's maddening at times -- jobs change, children grow up and move out (hopefully), friends move away, marriages ebb and flow, health comes… and health goes, relationships fluctuate, commitments wane, pets die, passions fade, homes fall apart, people age… Time passes and just about the time we say, "There now, finally I've got some stability in my life…” Boom, your A/C breaks down on the hottest day of the year (and don't ask me how I know that). Nothing stays the same… except God!

The Bible declares this unalterable truth in Hebrews 13:8:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow."

The theological term for this is called the immutability of God. In other words, Jesus is the Unchanging God in an Ever-Changing World! This means:

...Jesus loved me yesterday, He loves me today and He will love me tomorrow...

...Jesus forgave me yesterday, He forgives me today and He will forgive me tomorrow...

...Jesus was strong for me yesterday, He is strong for me today and He will be strong for me tomorrow...

...Jesus protected me yesterday, He protects me today and He will protect me tomorrow...

...Jesus was with me yesterday, He is with me today and He will be with me tomorrow...

...Jesus provided for me yesterday, He provides for me today and He will provide for me tomorrow...

...Jesus helped me yesterday, He helps me today, and He will help me tomorrow...

...Jesus healed me yesterday, He heals me today, and He will heal me tomorrow...

...Jesus gave me hope yesterday, He gives me hope today and He will give me hope tomorrow...

...Jesus gave me peace yesterday, He gives me peace today and He will give me peace tomorrow...

I read the story of a young man from Stuart, Florida who got up early Monday morning to go mountain biking on some back trails in Halpatiokee Regional Park. He had been here many times before, and he was a very experienced biker. He was looking forward to a great day in the outback. As he traversed the hills and valleys, his adrenaline was pumping and his heart was soaring… as he accelerated up and over a rock out-cropping… suddenly, banking hard on a downhill switchback, his front tire blew sending him flying over his front handlebars. He landed hard on his right shoulder, gashed his left arm… his helmet crashed against the hard clay… he bounced and careened down the steep hill finally landing in a shallow creek… where he was attacked by an Alligator! Fortunately, Charlie Shannon was out walking his dog when he saw the whole thing, raced over to the creek, fought the alligator, pulled the guy free, and called 911. Good News… the doctor said he's recovering and will be just fine in a couple of weeks. But gee whizz… And that's the world we live in!

Listen… you and I will age… we will change. On this side of Heaven, we will always live in a world where everything and everyone is constantly changing. But the God who rules over everyone and everything does not change!

He is Good and He is Faithful and His Mercies are new every morning for you and for me! Whew! Isn't that a relief?! That is such good news!

So… if you're sick and tired… if you're feeling like there's more quicksand than concrete under your feet today, for whatever reason... fix your heart on King David's portrait of the God who just rescued him from his enemies:

"I love you, LORD;

 You are my strength.

The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior;

 My God is my Rock, in whom I find Protection.

He is my Shield, the power that saves me,

 and my place of Safety."

- Psalm 18:1-2

AMEN!

Pastor Harry

‍