I am the husband of one and the father of nine. I was created to sing, to worship, to encourage, and to be steady. I am the Owner & Executive Director of Trinity Arts Center, a multi-disciplinary Arts Center in Eastern Tennessee, and the President of Trinity Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on funding arts education and performance. I've been involved with four music projects in my life -- Hot Pink Turtle, Spin Radio, Stand Like Stone, and of course, Jamin Rathbun.
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bibleHebrews 12, like Hebrews 10, starts with a word of encouragement (one of my favorites) but -- ends again with some pretty dramatic language about the result of refusing God. First, the nice part...
Hebrews 12:1-2
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I love the beginning of verse 2, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith." = )
Paul then changes the tone of the letter, still an encouragement but -- with a slightly darker theme... Hardship and discipline...
Hebrews 10:5-6
My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Hebrews 10:9-11
We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Hebrews 10:9-11
We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Paul closes that section by referring to our "feeble arms" and "weak knees" and then -- reminds us to live at peace, share grace, and avoid bitterness, as well as to...
Hebrews 12:16-17
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. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
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. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
The point? God is not a game you can manipulate. Not with tears, not with time, and not with the grandest con or attempts at deceit. You need to take this seriously because God will not be mocked and rejection of Him does have a consequence. Paul reinforces this point by painting a picture of God's power (at Mount Sinai), which I'll paraphrase...
He says... You have not come to a mountain burning with fire, enshrouded in darkness, and gloom, and storms. A mountain surrounded with trumpet blasts and voices speaking words so frightening that we beg for them to stop, where any animal that touches it -- must be stoned. A picture so frightening that Moses, who had seen rivers of blood, plagues of locust and toads, the supernatural death of the first-born of Egypt, and an entire army drowned as the Red Sea crashed down up them said -- "I am trembling with fear."
Again -- that's not the mountain we've come to (implying that Mount Sinai was sissy stuff compared to what's coming)...
Hebrews 12:22-24
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.
I almost hear this last section delivered by James Earl Jones, with as much frightening authority as he could muster... "the Living God", "the judge of all men", and "See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks."
Just in case he hasn't been clear enough about the seriousness of this rejection, he closes with another warning...
Hebrews 12:25
If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
Hebrews 12:28-29
Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
Hebrews 12:28-29
Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Father, help us to hear what you would have us hear. Show us your truth and send your Holy Spirit to teach us. Amen.
© 2006-2010 Jamin Rathbun & Superdink.com. All rights reserved.
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