Jesus is, in the twenty-first century, essentially the same as he was he when walked with Adam in the cool of the day, or when he spoke to Abram, or wrestled with Jacob, or stood in the burning fiery furnace with Shadrach, Mechach and Abed-nego. He is the same Jesus that spent the night on the beach around a campfire with the disciples, or on mount Hermon where he was "transfigured," or when he ate a fish breakfast with the disciples after the resurrection.

He is the Jesus of whom the angel spoke at his ascension, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven."

Jesus never changes. Nor, it seems, do we. He is just as righteous, pure and clean. We are just as evil. And still, he loves us.

In a 21st century culture of relativism, vulgarity, dissipation and wholesale depravity, Jesus remains the same. He still loves us. He is the one, solitary Absolute.

That is why you and I must not fear those who would rob the cross of its meaning, or would threaten to kill and maim us with beheadings and bombs. We need not fear a culture of sexual perversion, nor yet even a "cancel culture."

This does not mean we should not respond, it means that we should not fear, We need not be apprehensive to a leering, bearded muslim, nor should we be frightened of the new age philosophies of high-profile, celebrity wanna-be-messiahs. With Jesus, there is no "New Age," there is only his absolute promise to be with us wherever we are and in whatever we face. We need not fear for who is elected President. Or who is not.

"Come to me all of you who labor and feel heavy-laden, learn of me, and I will give you rest." -- Jesus Christ

With this reminder comes my prayer that it will give us all cause to take comfort in him who is the God of all comfort.