“You Are the Same” (Ps 102)

“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and your years will have no end. The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You” (vs27-28)

The Lord Jesus wont forsake us, even though we're sinners. He says, “But You are the same”.  He is faithful to give us salvation, hearing our cries after defeat and self imposed misery.  The God who chastens also heals.  He smites us rightfully, and He is the One that heals us faithfully. We read, “Because of Your indignation and your wrath; for You have lifted me up and cast me away. My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass. But You, O Lord,shall endure forever, and the remembrance of your name to all generations.” (vs10-12).  It is always going to be well with us.

God's grace is for sinners and saints who've fallen. He says, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; incline Your ear to me; in the day that I call, answer me speedily.” (vs1-2).  He makes us taste the misery, fear, and shame of sin, but He doesn't remove the certainty of His promises. He wipes away the tears, as we come to Him for relief. He says, “So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer” (vs15-17). 

Enemies like Satan mock us, declaring we're unworthy hypocrites, deserving of doom and gloom, sinners who can't climb above what we've done.  But the Psalmist encourages himself CONFIDENTLY in the Lord. He says, “This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; form heaven the Lord viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death” (vs18-20).

He doesn't change, He loves us to the end, and He changes us faithfully by His favor!  He's no grudging god. He readily gives grace, and then more grace.. We read, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). He saves all the poor in spirit who want salvation by the blood and Spirit of Christ... even all who seek pardon and power to obey.

Don't be discouraged and gloomy at your faults.  They prove you're utterly wicked and must be humble. He says, “To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord” (vs21-22). Forgiveness teaches us that WE are nothing and HE is everything, so we praise Him, pointing sinners to His love.  We don't pretend that we made it by our strength, or that we're better than those who fall, not even those who perish, refusing to repent.  We're gracious slaves of Christ because we see Him saving us faithfully, when we're convinced that we're unworthy.

Sinners need not fear rejection!  Saints who've fallen must rejoice!  Be bold in His love and grace.