1:10–12 "In the beginning, O 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."
On this first day of a new month the concept of change is one that we shall consider and we shall do so for the next few days. The writer to the Hebrews introduced a major thought for us when he wrote about change. Most of us hope that a new month will bring about changes in circumstances or health, we also hope that a new month might bring with it a change in fortunes within our families and friends. However, not many days go by in a new moth before we realize that most things stay the same. The dates might change but often the circumstances remain the same.
However, the writer to the Hebrews talked about a day when radical change would take place on planet Earth. God would bring about a major change within the circumstances of this world that would alter things forever and for eternity. It is these concepts that we will consider for a few days at the beginning of this new month.
The first consideration in the concept of change that the writer to the Hebrews introduced was the fact that the foundations of the earth and heavens were the works of the hand of God. He expressed quite clearly the concept that it was God and not evolution that brought about the earth and heavens. He stated quite forcefully that God is, that God was, and that God created all things.
The word for foundations is a very interesting word, the Greek word used in this text is the word ‘themelioo’ and it was used to convey the thought of ‘someone who placed a stone’. However, this concept is not simply just one of placing a stone upon the ground, it is far more than that. The Greek word conveys the thought that when you are seeking to build a pillar or a column you have to have a sound base. It is with this thought in mind that the writer used the word ‘themelioo’. The word is taken from two words, ‘tithemi’ which is ‘to place’ and ‘lithos’ which means a ‘stone’. Placing a stone in the right place and in the right way will allow you to build a structure that will be solid. The story of the wise man and the foolish man comes to mind!
The same word appears when New Testament writers talked about the foundation of the Church being Jesus, it also appears when Paul particularly talked about the ministry of the gospel and the doctrines of the Church. Both the gospel and the Church are built upon a solid foundation which cannot be moved.
In verse 10 of Hebrews chapter 1, the writer introduced an interesting use of this word when he sought to show just what would happen to planet Earth in the future. He talked of an amazing change that would take place when even the earth, with its solid foundations built upon a sound rock base, would undergo a transformation. The writer was conveying the fact that the earth would change and decay but that the Lord who created all things would remain as true and as firm as He has ever been.
It is with this thought in mind that we can commence another month. Heaven and earth may change and our planet may decay but the Lord will never change. His faithfulness is from everlasting to everlasting and we can trust Him because He always remains the same. What a good thought as we commence a new month, the calendar may have changed but God has not!
Heavenly Father, I bless you today for the wonderful fact of your unchanging nature; this world is changing fast and everything around me is decaying but you remain the same. Help me to understand this concept and help me to rest in the fact that you were there before all things, you are still the same and that you will always be the same.
