"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." This according to Hebrews 11:1. The past two sermons have dealt with faith. Now the author of The Letter to the Hebrews, turns to something that is an essential part of faith. Faith must be guarded carefully. One must have certain discipline when it comes to faith, for there are far too many pitfalls that can jeopardize the faith of even the most dedicated. In this chapter the author wants to make sure that his readers understand that faith has merit...faith is worth having, for faith has results. His original readers needed encouragement in their faith. They needed to hear that even though it may seem futile at times, faith is essential, and sometimes all a person has left to which to cling.
In the previous chapter we heard that the people of the Old Testament longed for a "better country," a "heavenly home." I believe that the entire biblical story is designed to steer us toward that home. We hear so much about social justice these days, that this part of the biblical story is almost lost, especially in our mainline churches. So it becomes almost easy to have no faith. If there is nothing to hope for, there really is no need for faith. But if you have the "Faith of our Fathers," it needs to be a disciplined faith. Faith is hard work. Even though it is gift from God, we must work at it, much like an athlete in competition. Never would we want to be led to believe that it really isn't worth it.
"As for us, we have the this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us" (vs 1). These two sentences are loaded with encouragement, and advice. Our author, looking into the future, sees that for Christians of his day, the time ahead will not be easy. Today, in our society, it is relatively easy to call yourself a Christian. The irony is; it is becoming increasingly more difficult to promote a Christian life, especially if you are a conservative, traditional, or evangelical believer. Have you ever noticed that every other world religion seems have a higher profile in Canada, and perhaps all of North America, than does Christianity? We Christians are asked to bend over backwards to accommodate all other religions, and groups. If we have even the slightest problem with this, we are seen as exclusivists, and b! eing closed minded, which of course is not the case at all. We just happen to believe it important to maintain the orthodox faith, which means that we believe it important to hold on to the basic Christian faith as established in the early creeds, and in our own United Church of Canada, by the Twenty Articles of Faith. So today we too need to be encouraged. We too need to have a disciplined faith. Hebrews 12 tells us how.
First our author speaks of witnesses. He asks his readers to consider carefully the faith of those who were mentioned in the previous chapter. Think of what they were asked to endure in the name of faith. And they did it, willingly, for the most part. Some had problems with it, but after all, they were only human. Look at Moses. He fought God to the bitter end, so to speak, when he was asked to lead his people out of Egypt, but he gave in, and became one of the finest examples of people of faith ever, committed to the job at hand, knowing that the final reward would be worth it. He was like an athlete, running the race of his life, and winning the prize.
Anything that might hinder an athlete must be put aside. He or she must be physically, and mentally ready for the event. Nothing is going to stand in the way of winning. This is not mere competition, but a life long desire, a sincere hope that the preparation has been enough. This is not just a desire to "beat the other guy," but a test of self endurance and ability. There is a sheer determination to run the race, and finish as the victor. So it should be in our Christian life, as we, "run with determination the race that lies before us."
The Greek word for "race" is agon, from which we get our word "agony." This indicates that running a race is never easy. Without rigorous discipline, neither is keeping the faith. We have examples of faith, and our supreme example is Jesus Christ himself, who did not give up. Even the agony of the cross could not make him give up. And what was his reward? "Now he is seated at the right side of God's throne" (vs 2b).
How then should we be disciplined in our faith? "Think of what (Jesus) went through: how he put up with so much hatred from sinners!" (vs 3). Said in another way, "Look to Jesus as your example. See how he put himself in a position of disgust by his fellow Jews, because he was willing to identify with those in need. He was willing to touch the leper, heal the infirm, even on the Sabbath, and forgive the sins of a prostitute. He lived with the excluded, thereby setting an example of faith." Isn't this what Christianity is all about? Yes, and more! We think it important to keep the "orthodox faith" because we believe Jesus when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He has set the pattern for us, as we run our own race of faith. And if we are to be his followers we must consider social justice as part of our Christian faith. We too must accept even those whose behavior to us is rather bizarre, perhaps eve! n wrong. Turning away from them means that an opportunity is lost...the opportunity to introduce them to our faith in Jesus Christ. Paul asks the question in Romans 10:14 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?" What better way to reach out to then by Christ's own example. This is our mandate...it too is part of social justice.
Our author now turns to the parent-child relationship. In the earlier times, the father was the disciplinarian. Today of course, this is a shared responsibility. In biblical times, fathers had absolute power over his family. The author encourages his readers to, "Endure what (they) suffer as being (like) a father's punishment" (vs 7), and he goes on to say that this kind of discipline has great value. It might seem disconcerting at the time, but, "Later...those who have been disciplined by such punishment reap the peaceful reward of a righteous life" (vs 11).
"Lift up your tired hands then, and strengthen your trembling knees. Keep walking on the straight paths, so that the lame foot may not be disabled, but instead be healed" (vs 12). Have you ever felt like that. There are so many challenges to your faith, that you just want to give up. Take heart! If you "walk the straight path" of disicplined faith, faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that "lame foot" which is trying to disable you, from whatever source, will be not drag you down. In fact, it will be healed. What a great message for those of us who are determined to keep this kind of faith alive in our United Church. According to this, if we remain faithful, we cannot fail!
"Try to be at peace with everyone and live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord with out it" (vs 14). One reason I believe people will stay away from church, any church, anywhere, is conflict within that church. Listen to our author's words carefully. If there is conflict, people cannot see the Lord. That's what he means. Fighting and arguing takes away the peace of holiness. Let us give thanks for peace in our church here! Let us together strive to keep it that way. If we do not, the world around us will never see the Lord working in our church, nor in our personal lives.The author mentions Esau giving up his birthright for a plate of food. He was sorry later, but could not reverse the situation. It's the same with bitter words. Once said they cannot be taken back. We must be careful with what we say, and how we say it, for words have a lasting impact.
Our author then compares the difference between the fear people experienced at Mount Sinai many years before, with the joy of the gospel. He writes, "Instead (instead of Mount Sinai), you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God....(vs 22). Mount Zion was the symbolic place where God provided the sacrifice in Isaac's stead, the place associated with the "heavenly Jerusalem, with its thousands of angels." This is heaven, the ultimate, and eternal home of all believers, with the Messiah-King, our Lord Jesus Christ...the "joyful gathering of all God's (people) whose names are written in heaven" (vs 22).
"Be careful then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks" (vs 25). Listen! Listen to whom? "The one who speaks from heaven." Who speaks from heaven? Jesus Christ, the very voice of God. O, he came to earth with words of comfort, but he also had words of warning, the bottom line being, as Barclay has it, "Be false to (God), and that very God who might have been your salvation will be your consuming fire of destruction." (Barclay, William, The Daily Study Bible, Toronto, G.R. Welch Co. ltd., 1976).
With these grim words, the author ends this chapter. But he encourages his readers, and us to be thankful for the citizenship we have in that "heavenly country." You see the whole thing is based on faith. We believe in a loving God, who in his love sent his Son to us, to make possible our " heavenly citizenship." I want to emphasize that love again today.
You have probably seen such signs many times. When a company takes over another company, there is often a sign placed outside the premises announcing, "Under New Management." No sign so accurately summarizes what takes place in Christian conversion. When Christ takes over a life, that life is literally "under new management." How hard it is to learn this lesson, and to acknowledge the new authority in our lives! How hard it is for those who have obeyed the flesh, to obey the Lord Jesus Christ! But that is required in being a Christian. And soon those same people can say, as the sign in front of a Motel near St.Thomas ON, " Under the same old management."
The author makes it clear that there are consequences for those who choose not to believe, but we have the promise of life in abundance, forever and ever. Again, let us give thanks to God always! AMEN
