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Plainly Speaking
with Karl J. Forehand
Challenges
on the Road to Zion
(Hebrews 12:12-17)
by
Karl J. Forehand
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are
feeble, and make straight paths for
your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but
rather be healed. Pursue peace with
all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the
grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by
it many be defiled; that there be no
immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single
meal. For you know that even
afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he
found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears (Heb. 12:12-17)
Let’s start with a summary of
Hebrews, chapter 12:
Verses 1-3. This chapter opens with the
writer encouraging us to get in the race.
He encourages us to remember the witnesses that went before us (Heb.
11). He encourages us to fix our eyes
on Jesus and not to lose heart in the race.
Verses 4-11. This portion speaks of God’s
discipline. As we are running the
race, we experience trials and discipline.
The writer reminds us that discipline never seems pleasant, but it is
always necessary. We will be tested
and we will experience discipline.
Verse 18-24. A little later in the chapter, the writer speaks of the Mountain
of God (Zion) that we have come to.
It is different than Mount Sinai (where the 10 Commandments were
given. Mount Zion can be
approached. This passage says that we
have “come to” this mountain. We can
approach God’s throne each day.
Verses 25-29. The writer goes on to
discuss the Kingdom of God which is unshakable. Verse 28 says we “receive access” to this kingdom – not later,
but NOW.
It is possible to run the race
and stand in God’s presence while here on earth. We often talk expectantly about the Pearly Gates; but we can go
past the pearly gates and into the presence of God NOW! Hebrews 10:19-21 tells us we can have
confidence to enter the holy place and draw near to God.
In between running the race and
approaching God, we find there are a few challenges. The layout of this chapter bears that
out. Notice the layout below with the
current passage inserted.
Running the Race (1-3)
Experiencing God’s
discipline (4-11)
Facing the Challenges
on the Road to Zion (12-17)
Apporaching the city of God
(18-24)
Receiving the unshakable
kingdom (25-29)
1. Weak hands / feeble knees
We often become weary from
the race. God never said we could
“tip-toe through the tulips” into his presence. It often takes endurance, dedication and persistence. Why would God do that? Is He mean? No, the reason we don’t automatically enter God’s presence is
because of our sin, our stubbornness and our pride. These things not only make us tired, we often find ourselves
injured and in need of care spiritually.
The writer’s injunction is that
we should “bind up” those that are weak and injured. When we notice one of our brothers or
sisters hurting we have to help them.
Isaiah expressed it this way:
Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart,
"Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The
recompense of God will come, But He will save you." Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
(Isaiah 35:3-5)
Very simply, we need to
rediscover encouragement.
2. Loss of direction
We must “make straight paths for
our feet” so that we won’t be injured further. I have a knee that was injured some time back. Every time it is about healed, I do
something like playing softball with the youth and it never heals. Isaiah spoke of a “highway of holiness.” These paths are always direct paths, but
we lose our direction.
How do we lose our
direction? Often for teenagers, it is
their pioneering, independent spirit that takes them off the path of
holiness. Some adults adopt an
entrepreneurial ideal about holiness.
They want it but they want to do it “My Way.” Generally, younger adults like to take
road trips. Their spirit of adventure
takes them off to “sow oats,” even though oats don’t grow in the desert. Many middle age people simply pull off at
the rest stop and take a nap. They
may still be coming to church, but they are not proceeding down the path to
Zion.
I celebrate everyone’s right to
think creatively and explore new ideas.
The trouble with getting off the path is that we always come back
somewhat damaged from our road trips and adventures. One teenager comes back to the path with a
child. Another young adults come back
with many regrets that will take years to heal. Spiritually there are broken legs and weariness from
wandering. Every time we wander off
the path, we are a little less enthusiastic about serving our Lord.
3. Disharmony and Grudges
We must pursue peace and avoid
bitterness. How can we visit the
throne room of God while we are fighting with our brothers and sisters in
Christ? My kids often stand before me
for encouragement and guidance. It
seems inevitable that they begin picking at each other and accusing each
other to the point that my voice isn’t heard. I then have to “thunder” to get their attention back. Isn’t that true of our interaction with
God? We are so much like little
children.
Most of us have a closet full of
grudges. These grudges, left
unresolved, turn into bitterness. I
understand how grudges and bitterness develop. What I don’t understand is why we hang on to them so long. I have a few question that I believe the
body of Christ needs to ask itself.
What ever happened to
forgiveness? Did we write that out of our
dogma at some point? Jesus taught, in
a parable, that if we can’t forgive, God won’t forgive us. Why can’t we forgive? Might it be that we see ourselves as “too
important” to be wronged. Even though
God is wronged by every sin we commit (and He still forgive), we find it
irreversible when someone wrongs us.
My, we have a high opinion of ourselves!
Whatever happened to
faith? I know we talk about
faith. I know we say we believe in it
when we are talking about a trinket that we want (such as a car or job or new
building for our church). But, what ever
happened to faith that God can change people? We often “write them off” as beyond repair. Whatever happened to faith that God can
change us? We can’t afford to say “I
am just like that” or “They will never change,” unless we do not believe that
God still changes people.
Whatever happened to
fellowship? God requires unity. We must pursue peace and remove
bitterness. Jesus expressed it this
way: “So if you are standing before
the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly
remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there
before the altar. Go and be
reconciled to that person. Then come
and offer your sacrifice to God.” (Matt. 5:23-24).
The worst bitterness is
bitterness toward God, but it is probably the most common form of
bitterness. We are not happy with the
way things are turning out in our lives and we very quietly develop a
hardened heart towards God.
What should we do?
1.
Get out of your comfort zone and encourage each other. Encourage means to “put courage” in
others. To do this, we have to pay
attention and notice when they are hurting
2.
Stay focused and stay on the highway to God. We must fix our eyes on Jesus and stay in the race.
3.
We must pursue peace and unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have to clean out the closet of
grudges, grow up, get over it and forgive.
Remember, only the competitor
gets the prize – the prize is entering the very presence of God!
Karl
J. Forehand, 2002
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