Sunday, September 25, 2011 - Hebrews 10:32-39

[Tek7]

Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don't throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised.

For in yet a very little while,

the Coming One will come and not delay.

But My righteous one will live by faith;

and if he draws back,

My soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.

Hebrews 10:32-39, HCSB

In this passage, Paul is addressing the issue of willful sin. I recommend reading the whole chapter (and then the whole book of Hebrews) for the full context.

Paul was genuine in his letters to the early churches. He didn't sugarcoat the terrible sacrifices the early Christians were making to defend and preserve the faith. And while we're not facing anything like the persecution Paul and his colleagues suffered, all people who serve God, regardless of culture and historical context, need endurance to persist in their service.

I'm reminded of the Newsboys song, "When You Called My Name":

I want to preach the Word
they want massages
I check chapter and verse
they check their watches
I spy another yawn
I might as well be gone
let's stand and say "Amen"
some days I must admit
I still don't get this
could be it's time to quit
when days get like this
I slip into the night
then stumble towards the light
wake up and try again

In a culture largely disinterested with genuine faith (which, make no mistake, makes us no different from any other culture in history), we can tire of seeking after God. It may seem that the majority oppose us. It may seem as though other believers are content with a "surface" faith. It may even seem that God Himself would take no notice if we resigned from our callings, both general and specific, to serve Him.

But there are consequences for our resignation and they are terrible. It is a wholly unpopular tactic to motivate people by fear in the modern age, but fear is the proper response when we regard God's response to a quitter: "My soul has no pleasure in him."

Contrary to what some preachers may suggest, the Christian life is difficult, even in a wonderful country like the United States that allows us to gather publicly, praise God corporately, and learn from great teachers. But life apart from Christ is even more difficult and has no lasting reward.

 

[Abba San]

Nice use of the Newsboys - I like their music. Thanks.

 

[Durruck]

There was a reason that Jesus stressed so much about the cost of being a disciple. It's nice to see that the message didn't stop with Him, but the Apostles and early church leaders worked to make sure people knew what they were getting into.