Hang On To What You Have

Hang On To What You Have
Hebrews 10:23-32

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Christ has taken away our sin and made us acceptable children to God. Some of my cousins were adopted. Some other kids were teasing them about not being wanted by their parents. My cousin said the other kids parents just got stuck with their children, but his parents came and picked them out special. It was true. That’s what God did for us. He picked us out for himself.

Sometimes children from the foster care system find it hard to fit into a family when they are adopted. They have been passed around by the state and some foster parents until they don’t really believe they are loved. As a result, they need constant affirmation and encouragement. Many become totally determined to do as they please. Our former life made it clear we didn’t matter much to the world. We need each others support to keep from falling into the same rebellious and rejecting attitude.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Adopted children who rebel against their parents soon find themselves in constant conflict and punishment. They refuse to allow their parents to be parents. Sometimes people come to Christ with the same attitude. They want to get out of the system and do as they please. They are not willing to accept God’s authority as their father and Lord. By that attitude they reject what he has given for them. They may have just gone through the motions of accepting Christ as a way of obtaining something else. Their sins have already been atoned for. Christ will not go back and offer another deal because we aren’t satisfied with what he has already done. There is no need of more sacrifice for sin.

“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:28-31)

By their refusal to allow God to be their Lord, they make it clear they have rejected the sacrifice of Christ for themselves. They have nothing to look forward to except the same judgment as everyone else who has rejected Christ as savior. In fact they have abused that offer, trying to get the benefits, while refusing to yield. How serious punishment do they deserve? One of the reasons for the church encouraging each other is in hopes of drawing those who have not yet committed to Christ to do so. As Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” They have experience most of what Christ offers, and reject it, desiring something else.

When we think of the people who came out of Egypt, experienced all the blessings of God during their stay, and died without getting into the land because they refused to trust God, it seems like such a waste of their lives. It is no different for the person who has participated in the church for years without submitting to Christ fully. The author recommends looking back at what has been invested and received, and not to cast it away because the final result has not yet been received.

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (Hebrews 10:32-34)

People believed God enough to get involved with the church, going through some of the struggles and trials the others have gone through. Why would they give up just before they receive the rewards and lose everything? The faith to continue may well be the faith to save them. James 2:18 stresses the idea that action demonstrates faith. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”

The ongoing works are not what saves us, but they demonstrate whether we have truly received salvation or not. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” (John 8:31-32). I John 2:24-25 instructs us, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”

If salvation is real a person will continue. The Holy Spirit will continue to do his job of bearing witness and convicting of sin, not letting us turn completely away. He will also continue to work in those who have not received Christ, until they turn away, and fully reject his action.

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:35-39)

We can throw away a life of experiences of God’s work by turning our backs just as many did during the stay in the wilderness, as a result of a lack of faith. I Corinthians 10:11-12 tells us, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”