In the devotion prior to v14...we were shown how to build the endurance in the Lord like an athelete trains for an event. Here in the next portion of Hebrews 12 we are given warnings not to refuse the voice of God. How does one hear the voice of God? That seems to be the question most folks that are young in the Lord ask. Like the most frequent asked questions you know.
Let us examine this section of the chapter now. We see here in v14 it tells us that we MUST make EVERY EFFORT to live in peace and harmony with ALL men. To be holy as Christ is holy. For without holiness we are not with the Lord. Turn to 1 Peter 1:15-16 these verses together read: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" How is one to be holy? We must set apart from the ways of this world. The world that is full of evil ways. We are to be aliens in this world, but live in it until Christ returns. This is so hard to do at times. The evil ways engulf every nation that is of this world. No matter where we go, with good intentions, we are going to always be tempted to the evilness of this world.
We are to become like God, not be God mind you; but become like Him. Free ourselves from the evil ways that are all around us. We are to become pure like God, our eyes should be like His eyes and turn from any evil there. Let us look in Habakkuk 1:13: "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" This passage is about the common statement about evil lurking within the faith of Israel. The wickness (treacherous) that is there within. How is the wickness within our faith of us Gentiles? Those chosen by God to be within His family.
You know children look up to the role models here on earth. Little boys look to their daddys and little girls look to their mommys. (Even grown-ups have role models) They want to be just like their parents. Are we not little lads and lasses in God's family? Are we not to look to Him and want to be just like Him? The verse tells us our answer, we are to place our best foot forward and want to be just like our heavenly Father in all we set out to do. We are to set out and see to it that "nobody misses the grace of God". v15
Let us see what ch2 v1-4 compares to this one v1 "We must (there is that word again) pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. v2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, v3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who hear him. v4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."
We are shown here that we must follow the examples of those before us. To listen to the voice and obey. We need to implant what we have been told from God's doctrine within our lives, so we may not drift away. God is the center of our lives the second we accept him.....His address never changes. Heard that once and really liked it. :o) It is so true for God doesn't move, we do when we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in this and that and we take our eyes of Him.
Look now to yet another passage to this ch6 v4-8: here it says "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, v5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God, and the powers of the coming age, v6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. v7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. v8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned."
In my bible study bible; I will quote what it says exactly on this passage. "The most common interpretations of this difficult passage are: 1) It refers to Christians who actually lose their salvation. 2) It is a hypothetical argument to warn immature Hebrew Christans that they must progress to maturity or else experience divine discipline or judgment. 3) It refers to professing Christians whose apostasy proves that their faith was not genuine."
Now let us look at this closely. In ch6 v6 it says "if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God" okay what does this mean? It shows me that we all fit in this one for we all have fallen away sometime or another in our walk, in our growing year(s). Are we set up for failure here? For we all fall short of the glory of God, that is written. But, are we given NO room to fall?
To be honest I had to go get clarification on this one. It made me get sort of confused here. Now, went to one that is a Christian, walks with the Lord, here is what was said. That one that talks the talk, but doesn't walk the talk, is what this verse speaks on. Like Judas.....he was thristy for not God but for valuable things. The perfume used on Christ feet by Mary was very expensive oil...Judas could not believe she was using the expensive burial oil to wash Christ feet. He made the others think he would have given it to the poor, but in his heart he wanted it for himself, to gain money for it. For he was a thief! Christ knows the heart of all, in the end it shall come out if one was truly of God or was a type of phoney. Wanted others in public to think that they were of Christ but lived a totally opposite life in private.
That their hearts were truly not of God.
These are the "Christians" in who will lose their salvation, for they truly NEVER had it. Once you truly believe, accept Christ, your salvation is sealed. You shall never LOSE it.
This leads to the next verse in chapter 12..v 16. "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son." In Philippians 3:18-19 says: "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. v19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things."
Here it tells us that their minds and all are on the earthly desires not on God. They live for the desires of the earthly things that they feel is more important than the desires of the Spirit. Their destiny is hell not heaven, for they long to do the ways of this world and not long for the ways of the Father.
Now Esau did not repent or have godly sorrow when he lost his birthright, he had earthly sorrow that brings death, not repentance that leads to salvation. Like Judas, he was sorrowed over the earthly values of material things and didn't have godly sorrow for he didn't repent of his ways and come completely to God. So here in verse 17 he was rejected by God due to his ways were not of God, he didn't come to God. He went to his father with tears for the blessing to receive but he didn't receive them. True Jacob lied for this inheritance that was rightfully the soul owner to his twin brother. But Jacob repented of his wrong doings in the godly manner in which we are to repent.
Let us take v18-29 together and not one by one. In this passage here it shows of the awesome occasion of the law in Moses time. How the old covenant was tangible with the mountain, ordinaces, warnings that were terrifying with severe penalties. Compared to the new covenant under Jesus Christ. We are ones under the new covenant due to Christ going to the cross we don't have such a threat like in the days of the law. We should not compare our days to the days of that law of Moses.
We need to make sure we do NOT refuse the voice of God. "We have received the kingdom which can not be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with revernce and godly fear."v28 v29 "For our God is a consuming fire." The beginning!!!!!!!
