Receiving an Unshakeable Kingdom
FIRST QUARTER 2022
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #12
MARCH 19, 2022
“RECEIVING AN UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM”
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28
The Scriptures for our study (Hebrews 12:18-29; 13:25, 26) highlight two pivotal events in earth’s history:
- the voice of God to His people at Mount Sinai
- the voice of God to the redeemed in heaven
From earliest times it was God’s plan that the simple sacrifice of an unblemished animal would point to the reality that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The emotional pain of slitting the throat of an innocent lamb by the sinner in consequence of his transgression would be horrifying. Thoughts would turn to the infinitely more painful yet worthy Sacrifice to come. Jesus, the Mediator of the new [everlasting] covenant, would lay down His life for the sins of the world.
Over the centuries this sacred service was corrupted. People’s hearts became hardened. No longer moved to tears by the shedding of blood for the remission of sins, the people were emboldened in sin and idolatry. After more than two centuries of living among the Egyptians, God’s people had in many ways acquiesced to the religion of their captors. Idolatry was their “new normal.”
Though baptized through the crossing of the Red Sea, they had not yet left Egypt in their hearts.
How could they be reached? How could they be drawn to the One Who loved them “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3)? They had lost all sight of the sacred character of God’s law. They viewed Him “as through a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12).” A veil covering their eyes obscured His character of love. Perhaps if God’s law was spelled out in clear terms, they would understand what constituted obedience.
Whatever transpired behind the scenes at Mount Sinai, the result was that the law was “appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19). The presentation of this law was accompanied by a supernatural display of God’s power — a burning mountain that could not be touched, darkness, tempest, the sound of trumpet and the voice of words which was so terrifying they pleaded to hear it no more. Even Moses trembled “exceedingly” at this heavenly display of power (Hebrews 12:18, 19, 21).
Surely this would motivate the newly-baptized slaves to honor God and obey His law — “and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 23). Without hesitation, they promised, “All the words which the LORD hath said will we do” (Exodus 24:3).
Have you ever prayed for a wayward loved one or friend who has gone after idols — “Lord, please do whatever it takes to save __________.”
A twinge (or more) of fear accompanies such a prayer. What will God do? Will He permit the subject of prayer to be in a terrible accident? Will some other tragedy befall them?
Unfortunately, and much as we would wish it to be otherwise, conversions brought about by fear or dramatic events do not have staying power. Once the crisis has passed, the unconverted settle back into a life of ease.
Such was the case with the Israelites. No sooner had Moses ascended the mount than the people forgot their fear and beseeched Aaron to build them a golden calf.
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them . . . or tempt Christ . . . or murmur “(1 Corinthians 10:6-10).
So as much as we would wish that people could be “shaken” awake by the ominous events that are occurring in our world every day, Paul reveals a more powerful motivation: “For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (Hebrews 12:3).”
When the children of Israel were bitten by the fiery serpents in the wilderness, there was only one cure. The Lord instructed Moses, “Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8).
Even so today, the only lasting cure for sin is “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
Today many of us are pleading with God for the salvation of those we love. Are we asking Him to reveal Himself to them as He did on Mount Sinai? Or are we praying that Jesus might be revealed to them on the cross, pouring out His life for them, an eternal sacrifice of love, to be received with heartfelt devotion?
Paul pleads, “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh” (Hebrews 12:25). It is a sad reality that the lost will not be so because they sinned — for all have sinned and fallen short — but because they said “No thanks” to the Gift.
“There is not the slightest reason why every man that has ever lived should not be saved unto eternal life, except that they would not have it. So many spurn the gift offered so freely.” (Waggoner on Romans, p. 102; 1896).
~Patti Guthrie