6/14 Hebrews 12:18-29 #16 Jesus > Everything
How often do we not do what we believe is right, in order to not upset someone or some group? ‘Why rock the boat?’, we say. Or we go along with the strongest current, where the flow is easy to ride… Where the herd is going must be safe, right? Where there is herd immunity. There is strength in numbers. I am fairly certain we do not keep an accurate count of this and do so more than we would like to admit.
But the truth us we do have an unshakable hope and it is based solely on the things that can’t be shaken – the kingdom of God, the truth of the word of God, and the righteousness of God. These are not things up for debate or to be voted on or find consensus. These are eternal and do not change (hence the unshakable part). It’s not that that they do not change, it’s that they cannot change by their make-up. They are incapable of change or being destroyed.
What does this mean for us as citizens of the kingdom of God? There will one day be a new earth, and new heavens to surround it. This is the future realization of the promised kingdom of God as it is intended to be. Eventually there will be one final shake down. Since the created things that can be shaken will be shaken, and will be removed – those things that cannot be shaken and will remain are what we need to base our lives on and build our choices around.
Those things that can and will remain will be those inextricably associated with the Kingdom of God because of their same make-up (the kingdom we receive in seed form), what cannot be shaken within us and will remain. Our link in this is that seed of the kingdom that will be reborn an imperishable body compatible in every way with the environment of the new heavens and new earth.
What is really being talked about here? Think about all of the time and effort we put into the things that will never successfully make that transition into the future kingdom of God. Most wars are not even fought over the things that matter most but are of finite value, that will be shaken and destroyed. Where should we chiefly be putting our efforts? Into what is right, into all the things spoken of in the Scriptures that are reconcilable with the coming kingdom.
As always, we must be aware of what is happening all around us, speak truth into it, adjust our actions according to God’s word as is appropriate, but our singleness of purpose and mind must be about kingdom things not created things of this world. As the church, we must not get caught riding the waves of thought and false doctrine that are largely diversionary from the core of the gospel. Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, Jude… almost every writer of the Scriptures warns us in some form of the potential for this to happen. We must be the ones who maintain singleness of focus and keep the eye of the body clear.
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Matthew 6:19-23 talks about the things we store up that cannot be destroyed.
We tend to only think in terms of physical/material things with regards to this. These are created things of this world but so are man’s ideas and systems in this world. Systems of thought, of right and wrong that are not grounded in God’s truth are things that are created that will be destroyed. The things we teach and do that are not grounded in the truth of God’s word will come to a fiery end. Keep the eye of the body clear.
1 Corinthians 3:11-19 teachings, doctrines, foundations of thought. This includes Man’s ideas, systems and beliefs in this world of right and wrong that are not grounded in God’s truth are things that are created that will be destroyed. The things we teach and do that are not grounded in the truth of God’s word will come to a fiery end. The righteousness of God will remain. The things of His will, of His everlasting eternal standard (truth).
Ephesians 4:14-16 waves of doctrine that divert us from maturing in Christ. Failed, false teachings that we are so tempted to follow, but that do not build us up or actually make us stronger because they are wrongly focused.
Hebrews 12:27,28 created things vs. ? Things of God’s make-up/essence/ presence
Hebrews 9:11 “not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation” Hebrews 9:24, “into heaven itself, into the presence of God Hebrews 11:16 heavenly city being prepared
Hebrews 7:16 “the power of an indestructible life”
John 14:3 where I am you may be / dwelling places, rooms
2 Peter 3:10-13 the old heavens and earth made of elements in this universe (10) will be destroyed
In the new heavens and the new earth – is where righteousness dwells
We ourselves will take on a new body via resurrection that is compliant with this new indestructible environment. We will be like God in that capacity as we are made in the image of God now on this earth.
1 John 3:2 what we will be like then? We will be like Him. What that exactly is we can’t yet know.
1 Corinthians 15:35-49 the discussion of the imperishable body / of a different indestructible substance
We will be bearing the image of the heavenly.