I need more than an inspiring quote to keep on living and not give up. I need the strength and comfort found in the verses of the Bible. Thanks to a reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App, which I highly recommend, I read Hebrews chapter 10, and boy is that chock full of encouragement to persevere! It's not often I'll spend a post solely in one chaper, but this time it's a must.
The first part of the chapter concerns the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for us and provides the foundation for the encouraging words of this chapter.
Let's begin with verses 11-14. "Day after day every [Hebrew] priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Let us remember that before Christ came, the priest would have to kill a healthy, unblemished animal and shed it's blood to atone for a person's sins. This was always going to be a temporary fix and it's greatest value was that it gave a preview to what Jesus would do for us on the Cross. The amazing thing about His perfect sacrifice was that once was enough! The meaning of Him being seated next to God is that his task of providing a means of atonement for the sins of mankind is complete. And someday soon He will completely destroy sin and death, perfecting the bodies and souls of believers before ushering them into his glorious, eternal Kingdom.
However, believers will receive that amazingly awesome reward only IF they persevere. Yes, you heard me right. "Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36) Only runners that finish a race receive a prize, right? What you find two verses later presents an even more striking edict to persevere. "My righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” I certainly want to be pleasing to God, don't you?!
Earlier in the chapter, God provides us with the fuel to power us through any weighty challenge that tempts us to abandon our faith. This is a great danger and the Bible gives us just what we need to avoid it.
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus ... and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."
(Hebrews 10:19, 21-23)
There's quite of lot of encouragement there! Let's unpack the rich spiritual truths within.
First, this passage is saying that we can have confidence to be able to enter into the very presence of God because of one thing and one thing only. Is it our own good works? Certainly not! The blood of Jesus, which he shed willingly, purifies us from all sin so that we can have a loving
relationship with a God who detests sin. This is amazing to me no matter how many times I think about it. Such undeserved grace!
Not only that, but we have a Jesus acting as our High Priest, interceding for us before the throne of God the Father. Knowing this, we should let God's love wash away our guilty conscience. If the Word of God says we shouldn't hold onto shame over our past sins, then let's abandon it! But remember the end goal of God is to completely purify our hearts, so we should focus on living a holy life and not falling back into sin.
So, as the passage says, let us charge ahead, knowing that God will be faithful to fulfill every promise He has ever made. And He has made some awesome promises, like giving us an opportunity to one day live a joyful and eternal life with Him in a place more beautiful than anyone can imagine! Anything this corrupted world offers looks utterly worthless in the light of this future.
Although challenges and trials may come, nothing should deter us from walking the path of this life with boldness, knowing our Lord and Savior is behind us every step of the way. I know Jesus will help me climb every mountain and pass through every valley that stands between me and Heaven.
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57) What could ever stop us now?
