Word for Word 6/15/22

An Unchanging Savior in a Changing World

It seems like this world is always changing. As I was visiting my brother’s farm in northern Minnesota, which was my Grandpa’s farm two generations ago, I couldn’t help but think of the rapid changes in technology. My Grandpa started farming with a horse and plow, but by the end of his farming career he was driving tractors with GPS capabilities. What a remarkable change!

Recently, we have been witnessing more than just our technology changing. Some good and some bad. With all these changes, there seems to be an additional question—“What is truth?” With differing opinions, news reporting, and beliefs, there is much disagreement. We have a hard time deciphering between fact and fiction, truth and falsehood, right and wrong. It can be a difficult and frustrating task determining the truth.

The author of Hebrews writes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8). This is the Truth! The Almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful, and infinite God does not change. Unlike anything else in this world, Jesus remains the same. What a comfort it is for us sinners to know we have an unchanging God who showed his unchanging love by sending His only begotten Son: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:16). The Lord declared through the prophet Isaiah, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

In the Bible, where God speaks to us, we are given the words of eternal life. All of Scripture, which is unchanging, points us to Jesus and His unchanging love for us. A love so great that He would give His own life so that we could be forgiven. He sought to ensure our eternal salvation with His death on the cross. We now have the unchanging Gospel truth that “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesian 2:8).

In a world that is constantly changing and at times difficult to discern the truth, we know the truth of what our Savior has done for us. This truth, which is the Truth, is unchanging in an ever-changing world. Despite the changes and troubles in this life, we can take comfort in the unchanging Truth of what our Savior has done for us!

Vicar Abraham Faugstad
King of Grace Lutheran Church ELS, Waukon and Trinity Lutheran Churches