Time with Jesus
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
INTRODUCTION
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Backsliding is a serious thing in the life of any
Christian. The great danger is that it might become permanent. The letter to
the Hebrews highlights this possibility in a sombre and thought-provoking
way. To better understand this we need to know why the letter was written in
the first place.
The author had an extraordinary knowledge of the background
of Hebrew theology and culture. Many have suggested that Paul was the author.
But this has not been conclusively established. The letter seems to have been
written before the destruction of Jerusalem. Probably in the time of Nero.
Many Jewish men and women were Christian converts.
Remaining Jewish had one advantage. The Jewish religion was accepted by the
Roman authorities. It was a “legal religion”. This meant they were permitted
to worship the one true God without hindrance. Those who converted to
Christianity had something of a problem. Christianity was an “illegal religion”
and was banned by Rome. For Christians in Rome it became a problem, particularly
when the persecution of Christians gathered strength. To be a Christian could
mean the loss of everything you possessed. Your wife and children could be
killed or sold as slaves for being members of an illegal religion. The
prospect for you was much the same.
Jewish Christians soon realised that they could save
their family and themselves by going back to Judaism. Their logic was that it
was the same God so everything would be fine. The problem arose when they
went to the synagogue. They had to publicly deny Jesus Christ in front of the
synagogue leaders.
To do this they would have to deny Jesus Christ.
Jesus Himself had warned against this. 33
But what about someone who says in front
of others that he doesn't know me? I will say in front of my Father who is in
heaven that I don't know him. Mat 10:33 NIrV
The letter to the Hebrews makes it clear that to
deny Jesus would be to lose Him permanently.
The letter puts it as follows: 26 What if we
keep sinning on purpose? What if we do it even after we know the truth? Then
there is no offering for our sins. 27 All we can do is to
wait in fear for God to judge. His blazing fire will burn up his enemies. Heb 10:26-27 NIrV
We thus see that Hebrews makes it clear. Deny Jesus
Christ publicly and you are lost forever. There can be no return. Repentance
after this point is impossible!
Now I don’t like this any more than you like it. But
I don’t make the rules. I’m just the carrier of the message. If you refuse to
believe this, I have no problem with you. Your problem is between you and the
Lord!
In view of this, it is easy to see how dangerous it
is to backslide. You may go past the point of no return. Is there such a
place? Hebrews tells us there is. I’m not able to define it for you or me. It
may not be the same for everyone. Much depends on your or my knowledge and attitude.
My recommendation is to remain in His love by being faithful. Don’t
jeopardise your Kingdom Citizenship through cowardice of fear of the
consequences. You may never be able to be restored!
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father,
who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,
2 Thess 2:16 NLT
All the same, I'll remember the covenant I made with you
when you were young and I'll make a new covenant with you that will last
forever.
Ezekiel 16:60 MSG
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those
who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14 ESV
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who
draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for
them.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV
That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not
ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is
able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.
2 Timothy 1:12 NLT
God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty--never
cancelled, never rescinded.
Romans 11:29 MSG
Who can separate us from Christ's love? Can trouble or hard
times or harm or hunger? Can nakedness or danger or war?
Romans 8:35 NIrV
The Lamb, who is at the centre of the area around the
throne, will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:17 NIrV
Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be
taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be
with the Lord. So then, comfort each other with these words!
1 Thess 4:17-18 GW
Get up, and go away! This is not a place to rest! It will be
destroyed, completely destroyed, because it offends me.
Micah 2:10 GW
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that
is to come.
Hebrews 13:14 ESV
ETERNAL
COMFORT
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Why is it
that our brothers and sisters in the Lord,
Do not get
excited, when they find that He has poured,
His
wondrous love upon us? He’s done it lavishly.
It isn’t
just a sample He has given you and me.
Perhaps we
should be shouting, hip, hip, hip Hooray?
Although I
have been told that it is not the Christian way.
But surely
it is better than the moaning, which we find.
There’s so
much we can celebrate. The Lord has been so kind!
We have
eternal comfort with grace and love and hope.
If this
does not excite you, then concentrate, don’t mope.
Think
about the covenant. It cannot be destroyed.
The
Father’s sure to keep it and it will not be void.
Unless you
turn your back on Him and go your own sweet way,
He’ll be
coming back for you; expect Him any day!
This
everlasting covenant was cut when you were young.
Expounded
in the finest words that you have ever sung.
Glory
Hallelujah, in the very loudest voice,
Is typical
for Christians as each of them rejoice.
If you go
to prison and find you’re locked up tight.
Concentrate
on Jesus and let Him shine His light.
If you are
not guilty of any sort of crime,
Use the
opportunity to have your quiet time!
Even in
the middle of a noise that’s deafening!
There’s
your opportunity to let your praises ring!
Ask Him
for a gift to use while you are still in jail.
Surely He
will give it and it will never fail.
So, what
if you’re hungry, naked or at war?
Ask the
Lord to tell you what you've been put there for.
Ask for
living water. He’ll let you overflow.
Use it as
the source of telling everyone you know,
That Jesus
Christ will shepherd you and take you to His throne.
Ask them
to come with you! Why go there all alone?
Tell them
You will meet Him in the clouds up in the sky,
Living in
a body that will not ever die.
Here you
have no shelter. This place is not your rest.
Give your
life to Jesus; you’ll receive His very best.
A mansion
in the city. That’s where we will all dwell.
Not in
some dark and smelly place; a loveless, painful Hell!
Jim Strickland – Written 18th April 2012
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