Peace in the race

 

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. - Hebrews 12:12-13

 

Sometimes the race can get really wearying. Times like 2020 are beating us down. Our shoulders can be slumped, we are getting weak in the days and we may be tempted to just lie down and quit.

I’ve been reading and listening to a podcast about Earnest Shackleton, the Irishman and Kildare man who led a couple of Antarctic expeditions with the ultimate goal of being the first man to the South Pole. He didn’t make it but his tales of his journeys, especially his trip on the Endurance have inspired generations.

 

They knew at one stage that there were not going to make it. The ship was stuck in an ice floe and was eventually crushed in the ice. Temperatures were far below freezing and they had near hurricane force winds. They were forced to camp in tents that eventually were torn apart and the used the lifeboats to build a sort of hut. Months went by.

 

But all during that time Shackleton knew that if he let his men get down they would die. He and the others found ways to encourage the men. They kept schedules. The planned meals together. The planned celebration times together. He insisted that one man keep his banjo so they would have music. The story is replete with examples of lifting each other up.

 

That’s kind of what we need to seek to do for each other. We are all going to get down. This has been a trying year in so many ways. We are not in persecution. We are not in real danger for the most part. Our problem this year is frustration and weariness over how life has changed because of the virus. Most of us have been basically out of church for months. We can’t get together. We can’t fellowship. We are forced to wait it out.

We need each other now more than ever. We need to pick ourselves up and then pick each other up. We need to stay on track as time goes by. We need to all become encouragers now more than ever.

Persevering when the race gets tough

 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. - Hebrews 12:12-13

 

Sometimes the race can get really wearying. Times like 2020 are beating us down. Our shoulders can be slumped, we are getting weak in the days and we may be tempted to just lie down and quit.

I’ve been reading and listening to a podcast about Earnest Shackleton, the Irishman and Kildare man who led a couple of Antarctic expeditions with the ultimate goal of being the first man to the South Pole. He didn’t make it but his tales of his journeys, especially his trip on the Endurance have inspired generations.

 

They knew at one stage that there were not going to make it. The ship was stuck in an ice floe and was eventually crushed in the ice. Temperatures were far below freezing and they had near hurricane force winds. They were forced to camp in tents that eventually were torn apart and the used the lifeboats to build a sort of hut. Months went by.

 

But all during that time Shackleton knew that if he let his men get down they would die. He and the others found ways to encourage the men. They kept schedules. The planned meals together. The planned celebration times together. He insisted that one man keep his banjo so they would have music. The story is replete with examples of lifting each other up.

 

That’s kind of what we need to seek to do for each other. We are all going to get down. This has been a trying year in so many ways. We are not in persecution. We are not in real danger for the most part. Our problem this year is frustration and weariness over how life has changed because of the virus. Most of us have been basically out of church for months. We can’t get together. We can’t fellowship. We are forced to wait it out.

We need each other now more than ever. We need to pick ourselves up and then pick each other up. We need to stay on track as time goes by. We need to all become encouragers now more than ever. 

Produce of chastening

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12.7-11

 

Chastening has a goal. Human chastening, as we saw yesterday can fail be cause we are men.

 

God chastens us for our profit – always and forever. It’s not fun, it can even be painful. But if we are faithful and yield to it God will produce the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

 

These peaceable fruits of righteousness ought to be our desire. We have so many goals and notions, but how many of us could say ‘my desire is to bear the fruits of righteousness?’

 

God’s chastening is always for our good. It is also done in love, and it should bear fruit by allowing His righteousness to be seen in my life. It proves that I am His son and that He cares enough to do something about it.

I can let it get me down and defeat me or I can let God bear fruit in my life. In large measure it is up to me.

May my chastening produce God’s fruit in my life. 

Prompting in the race

 

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, – Hebrews 12.4-9

 

Nobody likes the notion of chastening or discipline. I think it is because we have been on the receiving or even the giving end of chastening which was not discipline but just pure punishment.

 

Punishment sometimes has to be meted out. It is a sad, but a true, fact.

But we really mess up if we confuse it with chastening or discipling. Punishment is to exact a penalty. It may or may not teach anything.

But discipline, as seen by the very nature of the word, is intended to teach. Discipline is done in love. Sometimes it is going to be painful, but it is always done in love.

 

As we can see in the next few verses our fathers disciplined us and we disciplined our children. We did what seemed ‘best to us’ and I know, for one, I really blew it on more than one occasion.

 

But God always acts in love. He always chastens perfectly.

 

We can’t despise God’s discipline – He always does it in love and He always does it right and it is always for our benefit.

 

We’ll come back here tomorrow.

Persisting in the race

 

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls – Hebrews 12.3

 

Don’t be weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not.

 

How do we do that?

 

Here we see one way – consider what Jesus has been though.

 

Okay – got me there. Nothing I’ve been through can compare to what He has been through for me. Sure, I feel worn out. Sure I get tired and defeated and discouraged and angry and frustrated and bothered and sometimes I feel like I have just had it.

 

When that happens I am driven my one thing – self-centredness and  a focus on me.

 

That happens because I don’t consider Jesus who endured the greatest hostility against. He was constantly opposed and rejected. He was betrayed, arrested, and abandoned. They He was stripped and mocked and beaten and scourged and spat on and falsely accused and falsely convicted and nailed to a cross and raised and shame and had His Father turn His back on Him.

 

No, what if I do consider that? If I do, how can I honestly compare by weariness. How can I not carry on?

Power for the race

 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12.1-2

 

We have looked at the need for getting rid of the baggage. We have looked at the need for patience and endurance. Now we can look at our goal and our power and our motivation.

 

In any race we have to keep our goal in mind. There has the be something at the finish line for us.

 

And there is.  Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith is standing there calling to us and encouraging us with His arms open wide to welcome us home.

 

And look at what He has already done – He did it with joy, He endured the cross, despised the shame, and He is sitting on the right hand of God.

 

Don’t let that fancy baubles of this world get us off track. Don’t be distracted by the affairs of this world – let’s just keep our eyes on Him

Patience for the race

 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12.1-2

 

Run your race with patience. It would be great if this race was just a 100 metre dash where we could sprint to the end, cross the finish line, and then relax and take it easy.

 

But we learn pretty quickly that this race is an Iron man triathlon. We can’t run with a series of little short bursts. If we run the race like that we will struggle the whole way.

 

The long haul means there are some things we need. We need patience. We need endurance. We need sticktoitiveness. We need something to keep us on track. We need to realize that this world is not our home. We keep going because that’s what we need to do.

 

We did not sign on for the short haul. We signed on for life. Just keep plugging away. Don’t expect immediate miracles. Wait on the Lord for the final victory.

 

Preparing for the race

 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12.1-2

 

What do runners do when they get ready for a race as they approach the starting line? As they walk to the line you’ll see them getting rid of every gram of weight the can get rid of. The strip down to the bare essentials. When this was written the bare essentials meant truly bare.

 

It makes no sense to run encumbered by weight. I recently saw where someone ran a marathon in a deep-sea diver’s suit. It made for a good stunt, but he sure didn’t win the race.

 

Anyway, back to the race at hand.

 

When we our running the race God has set out for us we need to get rid of the baggage. We need get rid of the sin load. We need lay aside anything, anything, that will slow us down. Its no wonder people get weary and drop out of the race.

 

A lot of it is up to us. We have a choice to run in the deep sea river’s suit or stripped down to the bare necessities.

 

Deal with the distractions. Get rid of the sins. Get in the race. Run.

The world was not worthy

 

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. - Hebrews 11:32-40

 

There is not time in an all the world to tell the stories of people Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah and David and Samuel and the prophets. We are regaled by their tales and actions and faith in the Old Testament. We are amazed what they did as the world up to lions and subdued kingdoms and defeated great enemies and saw dead raised to life. We see that they faced great opposition and some were mocked and scourged and jailed a torn apart by beasts and sawn in two and things like that.

 

Many died. It’s the ‘why’ of the story that makes it interesting. 

 

The world was not worthy of these folks – simple enough. They did all they could, they gave it all, and all they got was opposition. They were, indeed, too good for this world.

 

I’m grateful that this world is not my home. I am glad that we have a greater reward ahead. These folks proved themselves above the world and they didn’t even have the hope we have.

 

Things may get tough – it important that we remember our greater reward.  

By faith the harlot Rahab

 

By faith the walls of Jericho

 

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. - Hebrews 11:30-31

 

The walls came tumbling down. What an amazing illustration of the power of faith. God’s battle plan for Jericho. March around Jericho for a week and give a shout and the walls will fall.

 At least as amazing though are the words ‘by faith the harlot Rehab.’

Wait, by faith the HARLOT Rahab? 

That’s right – the harlot Rahab. Not only does she appear here, but James speaks of her as an example of how works evidence true faith. 

Why Rahab of all people? I’ve often wondered that. Here she was a woman of ill repute who hid the spies in Jericho from the crowds looking for them and then said she hadn’t seen them. She hardly seems in our judgmental fleshly eyes that she would qualify for the Hall of Faith. 

I don’t know how this all worked out, but I do know that God said her works proved and her faith got her a mention here.

I guess its just a matter of God showing us that in His grace and mercy and infinite wisdom He can use anyone, even the weak and frail and imperfect.

That’s a good thing because that means God can use Roger the self-centred man or Roger the proud man or Roger the guy with the evil thoughts or Roger the unloving. 

Thank God for this little reminder that no one is beyond the power of faith.

By faith Moses

 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. – Hebrews 11.23-29

 

Wow. Moses had plenty of ‘by faiths.’  A couple of these really stick out. He chose to give up one of the most potentially powerful positions in the world to suffer with his people. What an amazing faith choice. He knew his reward would be far greater. I could spend a while thinking about that.

 

But for today I want to focus on the notion that he torsion Egypt, choosing to trust the One who is invisible.

 

Trusting the invisible is never easy, and yet we are called on to do it all the time. Moses could not see the result of his choice but by faith he did right.

 

We are challenged the same way. In the midst of our troubles we told to not look at the things we can see but on the things we can’t see. The things we can see are temporary and will one day be gone. It is the invisible things that are for eternity.

 

It takes great faith. The visible things are just so visible! We can’t avoid them. They are right there before our eyes and yet we are called on to not focus on them.

 

Don’t get caught up in the visible, choose, like Moses, to see the invisible, 

By faith the patriarchs

 

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. - Hebrews 11:17-22

 

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were all picture of faith.

 

Abraham offered up his son Isaac

Isaac passed his blessing on the Jacob and Esau

Jacob passed the blessings on to the sons of Joseph and he worshipped God

Joseph stayed left instructions to the people following him

 

Four generations of men were faithful in passing truth on to the next generation. Of all the things we could have read about these guys the things God wanted us to see is their faithfulness to the next generation.

 

This is the key way that we pass on our faith. Deuteronomy speaks of teaching our children and the New Testament tells fathers to bring their children up in the future and admonition of the Lord.

 

Of all the tasks we have one of the keys is to consider the heritage we leave behind. The day is going to come when all we leave here is our reputation. Let’s be sure that we leave a reputation that includes the words ‘by faith.’

By faith a better country

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. – Hebrews 11.13-16

 

All of these examples of faith had something in common. They were pilgrims and strangers. They knew this world was not their home. They all sought a better country.

 

Their faith boggles my mind. They hoped for a heavenly country and they didn’t even know what we do about salvation and heaven.  We know and yet how often our faith fails.

 

We are strangers and pilgrim in this land. This world is not our home. We too seek a better country to follow. We are citizens of another kingdom We are never going to really fit in.

 

But the day is coming when we will find that better country, just like these saints did. Instead of getting down and discouraged by this one, let’s keep our eyes on that better country.

  

By faith Abraham and Sarah

 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.- Hebrews 11.8-12

 

Abraham and Sarah are two of my favourite faith people in the whole Bible. I love them because they faith was real, but it was flawed, but it was enduring.

 

At the very start Abram was minding his own business when God appears to him and says ‘its time to back up and move. Don’t worry about where to – I’ll show you when you get there.’

 

Abram was a wealthy landowner with crops and herds and livestock and God just said ‘go.’ And Abram went.

 

By faith they lived in a foreign land and there they were faithful.

 

One day God made Abraham and great promise. He promised that Abraham would be the faither of a great nation and that the number of his descendants would be greater than the stars in the sky and the sand on the oceans’ shore.

 

But there was a problem – all that had to start with one son. The couple waited year after year and decade after decade and still no son. Their faith was imperfect – the messed up a few times and tried to take things in their own hands but all their attempts.

 

It was flawed faith – but it was faithful faith.

 

Finally, way past child-bearing years they were told that a son was coming! It was too good to be true, but next year they had their long-promised son.

 

Finally, barren Sarah bore a son.

 

Therefore, from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

 

They were faithful – and God met His promise.

That’s the kind of faith God wants from us. Enduring, patient, maybe even with flaws, but persisting till the day God answers. 

By faith Noah

 

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith – Hebrews 1.7

 

By faith Noah…moved with godly fear, built an ark.

 

What an amazing statement. Though he had never seen rain and though the whole world opposed him, Noah built an ark because he feared God more than he feared man.

 

For about 75 years Noah and his sons laboured to build this great rescue boat to preserve mankind. All the while he was preaching repentance yet no one believed except his own family.

 

No one.

 

But that didn’t stop them. By faith they acted and by faith humanity was preserved. By faith he did his bit, but the world was preserved because of his righteousness.

 

I have to ask myself if my faith drives me to work and to preach. If my faith were real I would know that folks needed the gospel in order to avoid destruction.

 

Give me a little bit of Noah’s faith at work.

By faith Enoch

 

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. - Hebrews 11:5-6

 

Enoch is an amazing character. Right in the middle of a list of Adam’s descendants we come across Enoch and there is a pause. Enoch ‘was not’ because he walked with God.

 

Enoch is one of those characters who only gets a couple of quick mentions in Scripture. We read about him in the book of Jude because He prophesied about the coming of Christ with His saints in judgement and to sort out set up His kingdom.

 

But we do learn a lot about Enoch. He listed in the Hall of Faith I think partly because without faith it is impossible to please God and Enoch’s faith pleased God to the point where God just took him on to heaven. Those who desire to come to God must believe that God is Who He says He is and that He will reward those who seek Him.

 

Oh to be an Enooch and to be known as the man who walked with God.

By faith Abel

 

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. - Hebrews 11:4

 

In this whole list of Old Testament faith possessors God chooses to list Abel first. When Abel and his brother came to bring their sacrifices to God Abel brought a more excellent sacrifice. Because this sacrifice was his best it evidenced that he brought a more excellent sacrifice.

 

Here is the account from Genesis chapter 4:

 

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

 

That sounds a little harsh. One sacrifice pleased God and the other didn’t. I don’t claim to know why, but I think there is a hint. Cain brought a sacrifice, but it is specified that Abel brought a sacrifice from the first fruits. The implication is that Abel brought God the sacrifice right away and didn’t wait to make sure that he had enough before He gave to God.

 

What about our gifts to God? Do we have the faith to trust God before we know that we have enough? Or do we, like Cain, gift an offering from what we have brought in. Abel’s faith I’m going to give the first of what God gave me and trust Him for the result without knowing what is coming.

By faith we understand

 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. - Hebrews 11:1-3

 

Faith is the substance of things hoped for

Faith the evidence of what we cannot see

Faith gave the ‘elders’ a good report

Faith allows us to understand the word of God

 

Faith is what makes the invisible visible for the believers. Faith does not require sight. Faith is the essence of all we hope for and it all the evidence for what we can’t see. When Thomas was doubting Jesus until he saw the marks on Jesus’ body Jesus said ‘more blessed are those who believe without seeing.’

 

Sometimes we hear the words ‘blind faith.’ While I don’t necessarily like how that is used, there is a point where faith does choose to believe without seeing. In a sense true faith is blind and it is all the evidence we need to trust God.

 

How did we get the universe? By faith we know that God did it. Faith gives us a good report as we are going to see here in a whole bunch of folks.

 

Faith is the core for all the rest.

Endure

 

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. - Hebrews 10:36-37

 

For you have the need to endure. Endurance implies that there is going to be trouble. Endurance implies that there is something to endure. That means that life is going to be a challenge. And endurance is the surest proof that we really are saved.

 

Jesus is coming again. We don’t know when, but it is coming. The challenge here is for us to hold on until He comes again.

 

We just started a Bible Study on Zoom. Our topic is ‘What’s Next?’ It is a study of Jesus and the end times. Even from the very beginning we see a stress on the imminence of Jesus’ return and the importance of us staying faithful and to keep plugging away, to work in the light, and to not fall asleep.

 

As every moment brings us closer to His coming we ought to never lose heart, to never faint, and to endure till He comes.

 

The end is coming. We don’t know when, but the ‘soonness’ of it means it could be today.

 

Endure in His strength and power and grace – He is coming, just hold on.

Keep confident

 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. – Hebrews 10.35

 

Do not let your confidence go – confidence has great reward.

 

No matter what we do confidence is necessary. If we are not confident in ourselves and our work and our God and our calling it is going to be much tougher to succeed.

 

We need to guard our confidence from the attacks of Satan. If we are not sure of our salvation and sure of God’s presence and sure of our calling and sure of His word we have nothing to give us the confidence to carry on.

 

We can’t allow our confidence in Jesus to be shaken by circumstances. Circumstances can fat too often drive us to doubt and despair. When we get to the point where our confidence is in ourselves we are always going to fail.

 

When we hold on to our confidence it has great reward. When we rest on confidence in Him we have the confidence to face the day.  We are confident when troubles come.

 

Being confident of this very things, that He who had begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

A fearful thing

 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. - Hebrews 10:30-31

 

One of the most effective sermons ever preached was Jonathan Edwards’ 18th century message ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.’  Accounts say that the message was so powerful that hearers clung to their chairs so that they would not fall into help. This message was part of how God brought about the second great American Awakening where thousands of people came to know Christ and when, in many ways, a young nation turned to God. 

 

Jude writes that sometimes our witness is a matter of showing compassion. But sometimes it is a matter of snatching people from the fire. 

 

As much as we might not like to talk about the Bible is clear – those who reject Jesus’ offer of salvation will fall into the hands of an angry God. 

 

The wonderful thing is that no one ever has to face and angry God. Jesus has already faced the anger of God on our behalf. He has paid the price and borne the wrath. 

 

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of and angry God. 

 

But there is no need to do so. 

 

God’s love led Him to establish a way to escape His wrath through Jesus Christ His Son. 

Expecting judgement

 

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. - Hebrews 10.26-27

 

This is a tough passage because at first glance it can seem like it goes contrary to the doctrine of eternal security. God talks here about those who sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge can only expect judgment.

 

Its not a nice thing to think about. God is love. God is patient. God loved the world so much He sent His Son to die for us. God is slow to anger. God wants everyone to be saved. But one day it will be too late. One day judgement will come

 

Those who wilfully continue to sin and ignore God’s pleading, hope is gone and the only thing they can expect is God’s judgement.

 

What a horrible prospect and want makes it worse is that too many Christians have the answer and refuse to share the answer.

 

It is our task to help others avoid that horrible expectation.

The assembling

 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25

 

What a powerful reminder for the time we are in. I doubt this has ever had the impact that it has had this year and I doubt it ever will again.

 

Let us consider one another we will be led to help each other by love and good works. That’s great and we an do that no matter what happens.

 

But then we are told the importance of assembling together to build each other up. That’s been tough this year when we’ve only been able to meet a few times. It is what we do. That is who we are. It is really simple, God’s people meet together. We are the church and the church assembles together. We fellowship. We break bread together. We sing. We hear God’s word.

 

This is probably the greatest frustration I have ever dealt with in ministry. In many places all over the world we have compelled by law and other circumstances to not meet. This ought to be the most unusual and uncomfortable time for God’s people. The church meets together and we are not doing it.

 

Thank God for the means to stay in touch, but it is not being together.

 

What is the church going to do? 

 

Somehow we find a way to keep on going. We are steadfast and immovable and abounding in God’s work. Our labour, whatever we can do, is not in vain.

 

May God give us wisdom during this most unusual and unnatural time.

In full assurance

 

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water – Hebrews 10.19-23

 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of His spirit, washed in His blood.

 

What a blessing to know that I never have to walk in fear or doubt of my future. I can have the blessed assurance that by faith by conscience has been made clear that my whole being has been and should be daily cleansed by the word of God.

 

I don’t have to wonder about my future. My eternity is secure. That blessed assurance gives me day by day and with each passing moment strength to meet my trials here. I’ve no cause to worry or to fear. The task is done and the blessing to me is that blessed assurance that I am His and He is mine.

 

No matter what else, in Christ I can have full confidence and full assurance that my eternity is not under threat.

A new and living way

 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water – Hebrews 10.19-23

 

The law was a cut and dry religious system. There was no real and abiding hope. Man knew what sin was, he knew to avoid it, he knew what the penalty was, and by faith he trusted the promise that one day the full price would be paid.

 

But then Jesus came and said I am the way, the truth, and the life. The old legal was has been done away and now we have Jesus, a new and living way. No wonder the early church called themselves The Way because they has a new way, a new life, and new hope, a new future, and a new eternity through the way the way, the truth, and the life.

 

The way now is alive with me and He walks with and He talks with and He tells me I am His own. The joy we share as we tarry here on earth none other has ever known.

 

He is alive. He is the way.

He is my life. He is my way.

 

Praise God for the new and living way.