Dear Diary,
Friend, we are almost coming to the close of the Christology of Hebrews. In this second last chapter, the author exhorts his audience to a variety of Christian onuses.
The RACE marked out for us, v. 1-3,
You remember in the preceding chapters we encountered the patriarchs and matriarchs of faith? Now, the author envisions these previous champions of faith as having finished their race, handed over the baton to their successors (you and me) and are cheering us on as we endeavour to finish the race. Certainly, they are witnesses to us of faith and resilience, v.1a. You know, in the age we are living in there are challenges, snares, weights and sins that can easily get us entangled but the author appeals to us to lay them aside, v. 1b. Then what? Run with perseverance the race marked out for us, v. 1c. “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,” Philippians 1:6. The race is already set before us; to finish it successfully, we must throw off every form of hindrance-unnecessary weights and crippling sin; we must make a sustained effort, endure, persist and be determined to finish the race right and strongly.
Our ultimate perfect example-Jesus Christ, v. 2-3
Well, the previous champions of faith were not perfect; a time they stumbled and fell. With the great gallery of witnesses about us, we can be tempted to keep our eyes on them but the ultimate example is Christ. He is the goal we are running toward so our eyes must be focused on Him. He trod the path of faith perfectly and brought it to completion. He endured the Cross, scorning its shame then He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God having completed His work of redemption, v. 2. The author invites us to take account of/consider Jesus as the one who endured. He didn’t stumble and/or fall. He is the ultimate example of endurance, v. 3.
The certainty of difficult times and why God allows it, v. 4-11
Well, some sad news here it seems! The readers of Hebrews must be ready for difficult days. In times of discouragements and difficult times we tend to ask, “Why me God?” Certainly, God is not the author of evil, but He does allow suffering to happen. One of the reasons God allows us to go through difficult times is to chastise us. The certainty of suffering should encourage the believer rather than horrifying him/her, v. 4. Scripture links suffering and sonship. Consequently, the believer is not to belittle the significance of his suffering or be horrified in the face of God’s correction. No matter how discouraged you might feel, never forget that God's chastening is not a sign of rejection. It is rather a sign of His treating us as His children, v. 5-8. In fact, those who fancy themselves outside God's chastening mark themselves as illegitimate sons, v. 8.
The superiority of God’s discipline, v. 9-10
We have human fathers who correct us and we pay them respect, v. 9. How much more should we be submissive and respectful to our Heavenly Father's correction? Human fathers, even with the best of intention, can only discipline poorly but the all-knowing God chastens us perfectly, with better and more lasting results than even the best earthly father, v. 10.
The results vs the process of God’s chastisement, v. 11
In fact, the nature of heavenly discipline isn’t pleasant, v. 11a. However, looking beyond the process, the fruit of the discipline is evidenced by a harvest of righteousness and peace, v.11b
Application, v. 12-17
Now that we know about God’s discipline, what do we do? Stop being spiritually paralyzed. Strengthen your feeble bones and weak knees, v. 12; make level paths for your feet and be in the right standing with God, v. 13; make an effort to live in peace with all men coupled with holiness, v.14; watch out not to miss the grace of God and rid yourself of bitterness, v. 15; watch out against sexual immorality and godlessness, v. 16-17.
Note that our relationship and experience with God is not modelled after Israel's experience on Mount Sinai. We know the experience at Mount Sinai was scary: it was marked with fear and terror; only one man, Moses was invited to draw near to God and be the mediator; it was about the law. But now we come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God- in joyful assembly; where Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant and whose blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel, v. 22-24.
Accordingly, watch out that you don’t refuse Him who speaks because the consequences are dire-a shaking that will remove all that can be removed, v. 25-26. Only the Kingdom of God is unshakable, v. 27. Finally, let us not trifle with God who is the Consuming fire but be thankful and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, v. 28-29.
Faithful Scribbler,
NzakuNashipae
NzakuNashipae
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