Hebrews 3 - Courageously Growing and Thriving

Ben and his buddies, Sebatian and Lucas - about fifteen years ago at Camp Evergreen.

I'm more and more convinced that North America (maybe elsewhere as well, I don't know) is poised for revival.  The Good News of God - that God has promised a new earth and new heaven - eternity with God - for His people who listen to him still stands today.  Millions more will hear God's voice and listen to Him.  They will not hear and rebel in disobedience.  Rather they will respond and trade the old for the new, the bad for the good.

        An old praise song keeps coming to mind this week.  It is about making trades.  It talks about trading sorrows, shame, sickness, and pain for new life in Christ - "joy in the Lord."  We used to sing "Trading My Sorrows" with the kids when they were little.  I distinctly remember singing it at Greenbay Church Camp in Kelowna, BC.  I pray many sing that song today and really make the trade.  Trade the crap and sin and lies for God's promise.  Make the trade today.

        Christians, we belong to God.  We will increase our faith and trust in Jesus when we hear God's voice.  We are called by God to heaven - the future world, the new earth and new heaven Jesus will create, that is our home (Isaiah 65:17 and 2 Peter 3:12-13).

        The Scripture here gives us a stark warning - we are told to warn each other - while it is still today - to make sure our own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning us away from the living God (3:12).  We are given a picture of corpses in the desert - the certain result of unbelief. We are reminded of the life-and-death consequences of trust and belief in Jesus on one hand and rebellion against God on the other.

Each of us has to be ready to grow today and to be strong in faith.  It’s a spiritual battle.  We can be deceived by sin and hardened against God (3:13).  The Holy Spirit says that if we harden our hearts and rebel against the living God we will not enter God’s place of rest (3:11).  God doesn’t mess around.  He gives warnings for a reason.  Christians are not soft soap, milk-and-water, Bud-light people (as A.W. Tozer and C.S. Lewis did so well to constantly remind us - they reminded us to man up, to be prepared to lead in every situation, and to oppose hypocrites).  We know the battle is real and the stakes are high. 

We hear so many pastors today tickle the ears of the sheep with sermons that affirm what sinful man wants to hear, “You’re ok, I’m okay, we’re all okay, just keep sinning as God accepts all and does not care what you do; people are fine if they ignore the voice of God today as the main point is tolerance of views and love of all.”  Pure nonsense.  Nonsense from those who love their darkness more than the light.

        God is just.  He hates evil and expects us to pay attention.  Those tickling pastors say that all you have to do is buy a cheap ticket to heaven, say an easy prayer, and put a bumper sticker on your car.  (If you had a dollar for every time you’ve been cut off by one of those drivers in Lynchburg you’d have a down payment on a new house)  Those hypocrites claim that the Scriptures are wrong: they say that it does not matter if a man hardens his heart against God and rebels, refusing to do what Jesus commands them to do (3:10).

God warns us here.  In love, we are warned.  Think carefully about Jesus.  He is the one who built everything.  He is God.  He is in charge of his children, his people  We, God’s children are told in Hebrews 3 to keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.  Do not harden your heart against God.  Do not be evil.  Do not sin.  We, like Jesus, must be faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed.

        But who is this Son of God?  Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham (2:16).  So he was certainly like Moses in that sense.  But Jesus is much greater than Moses or any high priest, for He offered himself as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

        Jesus was like a prophet in that He is described as God's messenger and High Priest (3:2).  But Jesus is far greater than Moses.  Jesus was faithful with all He was appointed to do, but He is himself the Creator.  The One True God who built everything and who will create everything anew is Jesus Christ (3:4).  Moses wouldn't dare attest to such power.

Take special care today of your heart.  Repent of all sin.  Turn to God our Saviour.  With the grace of Jesus, we will enter His rest one day.  Our hope is in Jesus Christ alone.

I know it matters now how I live  I must put my faith in Jesus into action.  Giving up sickness and pain, sorrow and shame is a very good trade for Joy in Jesus.

        Lord God, help me to follow you today in thought and deed.

Lord Jesus, please help me to know you and your Might.  Help your church to hear you and to get it right.  Help us not to be dead corpses, but rather new creations living and growing in faith in Christ.  I trust that we will hear from You today Lord Jesus; please help us to be courageous in following you.  Amen.

Singing at the Church Campfire.