If I were to ask you what you received as a Christmas or
birthday gift 10 years ago, or even five years ago for that matter would you be
able to name any of them? If so are they gifts that you are still using?
Most of the gifts that we’ve received in life are used up,
worn out, or even in some cases re-gifted… However the gift of Christ is an
unforgettable gift. The promise of God’s unshakable Kingdom – a kingdom made
available to those whose faith is true, strong, and enduring.
Hebrews 12:18-29
18 For you have not come to what could be
touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to
the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. (Those who heard it begged that
not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could
not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain,
it must be stoned!] 21 The appearance was
so terrifying that Moses said, I am terrified and trembling.) 22 Instead,
you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly
Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering, 23 to
the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to
God who is the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 to
Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says
better things than the blood of Abel.
25 Make sure that you do not reject the One who
speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on
earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven. 26 His
voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more
I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. 27 This
expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that
is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore,
since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to
grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for
our God is a consuming fire.
The focus is not on the people who have endured, but rather
about that which truly endures. Much of what we know as creation wasn’t meant
to be permanent. God has always had a better plan that we has been introduced
over time...
This passage closes with an ominous thought – God as a
consuming fire (vs29). This may cause
confusion that God is always out to consume everyone. In fact he could if he
desired consume each of us because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Yet Peter,
when writing about a coming destruction (by fire) said that God is patient, not
wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9).
So, a God who’s a consuming fire doesn’t have to consume...
We’ve seen this before… Moses stood before the Lord who was
in the burning bush, yet it wasn’t consumed (Exodus 3). Think about this – if the
Lord was careful to preserve a bush, think about how much more He cares for you
and me? (Matthew 6:30). We will be refined by fire, conformed to the image of
His Son, but just as in the bush we don’t have to be consumed...
The choice is ours. Hebrews 1 tells us that God has spoken
to us in the past and continues on today through His Son. Unlike everything we
see around us, His words will remain.
How will you respond?
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