Hebrews 2:1-4

Hebrews 2:1-4 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 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 heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Hebrews 3:7-11 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

The author of Hebrews warns us to heed the message of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Their New Covenant message was confirmed by various signs, wonders and miracles. Their message was also validated by the Holy Spirit who came to inhabit believers. His miraculous presence in the body of Christ brought God's power and authority to men. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? . . .You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. (Acts 5:3-5) Because of the evident power of God with men, the writer of Hebrews warns Christians to pay careful attention to the true message and to not drift away from that message.

Interestingly, the author tells us not to drift away. This warning basically connotes not turning away or rejecting the gospel but just growing cold or indifferent to the gospel, which is dangerous because the gospel was not confirmed merely by angels, but by the Son himself who validated his ministry of grace and mercy through miraculous signs and wonders and eventually his own death and resurrection. If we become dispassionate to such a heavenly affirmed gospel, how can we escape God's judgment and discipline? The implication is that we cannot. We cannot treat Christ's plan of salvation cavalierly and then go on thinking we are pleasing to God. Salvation demands wholehearted commitment from every believer. The Bible indicates God will spew lukewarm Christians out of his mouth. We cannot use God for our selfish purposes and interests without yielding control to him. Our lives must be totally his, under his authoriey at all times. We cannot compartmentalize our lives, giving some parts to him and keeping the rest for ourselves. IN CHRIST, we are totally submerged, committed fully. Such devotion does not wander away, for the Holy Spirit dwells within each Christian. He constantly makes us aware that Jesus is always with us: in our good and in our bad times, when we act correctly and when we are out of control. The Spirit always informs us that we are not alone and that we are ALWAYS HIS. Such a salvation is worthy of our all.

With these facts uppermost in our minds, we will constantly desire to conform our attitudes and our lives to his image. We will want the Holy Spirit's attributes to shine through us. We will seek God's presence and sit at Jesus' feet. Our voices will sing forth his praises daily whenever we find ourselves alone. We will continually commune with him in our spirits when we are not confronted with the mundane duties of this world. Our relationships with him will be minute-by-minute. We will not go for hours without hearing his voice and seeking his will. Our hearts will be humble as we wonder why the God of the universe would so graciously choose to love us. With contrite hearts and open minds, we will obey, serve, and worship our Lord.

Now, the Bible instructs us to enter into his rest as with the children of Israel when God asked them to occupy the land He had given them. Yet because of unbelief, they rejected his plan and did not enter in. Therefore, God judged them harshly and made them wander the wilderness for forty years before he would allow their offspring to enter into the Promised Land. Today, "Enter into my rest," remains the cry of the Lord. Today, turn your heart wholly towards the Lord as you commune with him. Today, draw near to him. If you choose to enter in, you will find rest and the joy of your salvation. Just as God finds joy in your salvation, you will find your joy in him, for He SELECTED YOU to hear his voice and to find his peace. His marvelous plan is sufficient for you if you do not drift away into complacency and unbelief. Dear one, remember that He will never forsake you or leave you fatherless. Today, accept the inheritance of a child of God procured by the shed blood of the Lamb of God.