Another period of time is begun, and the things of the former year are passed away with it, men and things have faded from view, many of them to be forgotten, remembered no more. We enter upon an unknown future to-day, full of hopes to some, fears to others, uncertainty to all. When I say uncertainty, I mean only in respect of time and things on earth; thank God, all that is of real value is for the Christian “sure and certain . . . within the veil.”
In the passage which supplies us with the two blessed presentations of Christ which head this page, we find the Spirit through the apostle contemplating the perishing, and the waxing old, and the changing, and the folding up of the whole of this material earth; but humbled as He might be, who became man, yet He was the Creator Himself, and His years could not fail.
Further, let us note the importance of the word rendered “Lord” in the quotation from Psalm 102:25-2725Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalm 102:25‑27)—it is the supreme and incommunicable name; it is Jehovah here, but is translated “Lord” in the Septuagint. It has often been remarked that the name God may be used in a subordinate sense and applied to those who represent the authority of God, but the name of Jehovah is never thus used, it is His own blest name of covenant relationship, Himself the everlasting and immutable One.
Let us just for our comfort meditate on the precious contrast presented to us here, namely, the crumbling and perishable creation with the eternal Christ—Jehovah.
First, how blessed to know that He abides, He remains the same, when all else shall have both changed and passed away; the tendency with us is to look at material things as forming a solid resting-place for our hearts; it is amazing how substantial to us is the land of shadows, how we pursue them, though continually wearied and disappointed.
Secondly, observe that all these things shall not perish simply for want of abidingness in themselves, but according to the will of Him who created them, hence it is said, “As a covering shalt thou roll them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same”—that is, the existing One, who does not change—the word used for remain (‘4":,<,Ì) means to abide through all changes.
May our hearts find their rest and repose in Him, may we be both won and satisfied by Himself, so as to be both suitable to Him and to serve Him the little while we wait for Him.
“And thus our bark moves onward,
O’er life’s tempestuous sea,
While death’s unerring hand
Is stamp’d on all we see
But faith has found a living One,
Where hope deceiveth not,
For life is hid with Jesus –
And Jesus changeth not.”