It’s All About Him

Hebrews 1:8-12

In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
Hebrews 1:10-12

Perhaps you’ve heard that all of scripture points toward Christ—that even the Old Testament whispers his name, pointing toward him as the fulfillment. If you’ve ever been skeptical of that, then take a look at this passage from Hebrews. In it, the author quotes two different Psalms, and applies them to Christ. Verses 8-9 are from Psalm 45, which is a Psalm written to the king at his wedding; verses 10-12 are from Psalm 102, a prayer to God from one who grieves for Zion. The author of Hebrews was deeply convinced that even the Old Testament is Christocentric, and still has important relevance for his contemporary Christ-followers. This view of scripture is shared by Philip, who showed the Ethiopian eunuch that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in Christ; it was shared by Jesus himself, who explained to disciples on the road to Emmaus how Moses and the prophets spoke concerning him.

This is our author’s deep conviction as well. Jesus is the final Word and the fulfillment of all prior words. The book of Hebrews opens by saying, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

Surely, Psalm 45 and its wedding theme will be ultimately fulfilled in Christ, when he returns for his bride, the church. Psalm 102 will be ultimately fulfilled in Christ, when he returns and establishes his kingdom fully and finally. This comforting promise for the early Christians continues to comfort us. There is a thread that connects these Psalms—his steadfast and eternal nature. His throne will last forever. He remains, from the beginning of time to no end. He does not change.

In a world where we so often lament a lack of ‘normalcy’ and ‘consistency’—in a world full of fast, constant change—may we not lose sight of the one who will never change. No pandemic surprises him or forces his to adjust his plan. No governmental power can move him. Nothing can contain him. He is the I Am. Even when the way we feel about him changes, he himself does not. This Christ, who is superior to even the majestic angels, is the one who was determined to save his people. He even took on human frailty and limitation to do so. What love must he have to do this? What is mankind that he is mindful of us? And to think that such a love is also unchanging. It does not waver. Not once, even as he walked the long road to Jerusalem and up the hill at Golgotha.

When you feel upended and discouraged, when you feel overwhelmed by life and the curveballs it throws, find the same comfort the author of Hebrews shared. You have Christ—better, Christ has you—and, while everything else may perish, he will remain. His years will never end.

Thanks be to God that our hope is most solid and secure, because it is in our changeless Savior, Jesus Christ!