Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Jesus is still the same today



Whatever was in the heart of Christ before the stars began to shine, that same infinite love is there today. Jesus is the same today as he was when he was here on earth. There is much comfort in this thought. When he tabernacled among men, he was most willing to save. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,” was the burden of his cry; he is still calling to the weary and the heavy laden to come to him. In the days of his flesh he would not curse the woman taken in adultery, neither would he reject the publicans and sinners who gathered to hear him; he is pitiful to sinners still, and saith to them yet, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” That delightful sentence which so graciously came from his lips, “Thy sins, which are many, are forgiven thee,” is still his favourite utterance in human hearts. O think not that Christ in heaven has become distant and reserved, so that you may not approach him. Such as he was here, a Lamb, gentle and meek, a man to whom men drew near without a moment’s hesitation, such is he now. Come boldly to him, ye lowliest and guiltiest ones, come near to him with broken hearts and weeping eyes.

Though he be King and Priest, surrounded with unknown splendor, yet still he retains the same loving heart, and the same generous sympathies towards the sons of men. He is still the same in his ability as well as in his willingness to save. He is Jesus Christ the anointed Savior still. In his earthly days, he touched the leper and said, “I will; be thou clean;” he called Lazarus from the tomb, and Lazarus came; sinner, Jesus is still as able to heal or quicken thee now as then. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Now that the blood is spilt indeed, and the sacrifice is fully offered, there is no limit to the ability of Christ to save. O come and rely upon him, and find salvation in him now. Believer, it will cheer you also to remember that when our Lord was here upon earth, he showed great perseverance in his art of saving. He could say, "Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.” Rejoice that he is the same today, he will not cast one of you away, nor suffer his little ones to perish, he brought all safe in the days of his flesh; he takes care to keep all safely in these the days of his glory, he is the same today, then, as he was on earth.

From a sermon entitled "Jesus Christ Immutable," delivered January 3, 1869.

Photo by a tai ; some rights reserved.

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