Heb 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Start with context – this follows the Faith chapter – stories of men and women of old. They are the “great cloud of witnesses”. But we’re not to focus on them – we’re to focus on Jesus. They are the audience, the encouragers – but He is at the finish line.
Why are we to focus on Him? Because He alone is the winner.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Nature of games in the Coliseum… You faced obstacles. There were people, and perhaps even beasts – that were trying to make you fail.
Verse 4 – none of you have had it as rough as Jesus had it. If you had, you wouldn’t be reading this!
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Quoted from Prov 3:11-12… Even the opposition of sinful men is part of God’s plan in shaping us.
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
This theme is throughout scripture… Hardship makes us better. People that have not endured hardship are insufferable. Athletes are familiar with the phrase “No Pain, No Gain”. It applied to all of life.
We all know this… Then why are we surprised that we have problems in life?
Furthermore – remember the writer is familiar with the Roman games. Our opposition most frequently comes from people. (vs 3 – endured opposition from sinful men).
Why are we surprised when people don’t treat us the way we should be treated?
10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Confirming that our struggles perfect us. Notice the word holiness. Holy means unique.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Cor 9:24-25 (NIV)
Simply put – Jesus is the only winner. We must stay focused on Him through hardship, so we can share in His win.
v 11 – hardship also results in peace, gained by right living.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
We are invited to redouble our efforts, to renew our focus. It seems the writer is quoting from Prov here:
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. 27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Prov 4:25-27 (NIV)
The writer goes on:
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
In context – that verse takes on a new significance. Make every effort to endure the hardship, run in a straight line, and come out a winner. Because unless you achieve His success – you have lost.
My shallow understanding of that verse has been at times, “Get along with people and dress right”. But it’s really reiterating the message of vs 1 – throw off every weight…
But the key to holiness (uniqueness) is looking unto Jesus. He is the only winner. You can throw stuff off all day long, and if you are not focusing on Him – you’re not holy.
OK – now we’re getting to the meat of my message:
15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
This is the antithesis of the winning life. Bitterness. The victim mentality. My study of Heb 12 started off as a sermon being healed from bitterness. So let’s look at these verses carefully.
The writer describes bitterness as a root. Somewhere, a root starts with a seed and results in a plant.
I’ve been using the NIV… But I want to go to the NKJV to catch something.
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; Heb 12:15 (NKJV)
“Looking carefully” goes back to where the chapter has been telling me to look all along. At Jesus.
“Lest” is another way of saying, “Do this, or else…”
You see, when we take our eyes off of Jesus, we will fall short of the grace of God. This is where bitterness starts.
Falling short of His grace is not the same as falling short of His glory (Rom 3:23).
His grace is unmerited favor. Undeserved love. Forgiveness. Bitterness starts when we miss that mark. We miss that mark when we forget that hardships are an expected part of winning.
You see – people are going to do us wrong, just like they did Jesus wrong. v 3 – consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men.
No doubt about it – opposing Jesus is sinful. And offending you is sinful. Nobody is justifying that opposition. It’s wrong. But Jesus reacted with “Father forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)
Offenses come from people that are close to us.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 1:11 (NKJV)
You know when we have the most trouble forgiving? It is when someone close to us fails us. Philip Yancey wrote a book called Soul Survivor, in which he recounts how he survived the church. Unfortunately most of us have had to survive the church. A preacher abused you. A saint ended up being not so much a saint after all.
Paul, in recounting his many perils, includes perils amongst false brethren. (2 Cor 11:26)
Folks – I promise you that at some point in your life, people in the church are going to let you down. People simply fail. We’re all human.
You decide whether you are going to be offended when this happens – or if you will view it as a part of God’s plan for your life – and forgive.
Personal story of pastor not treating me correctly? If that had not happened, I might not know how to treat you…
So unforgiveness is the seed of bitterness. What else can we understand about a root?
Roots are hidden
Bitterness isn’t visible to others… It sits below the surface, often for years…
Roots suck all of the nutrients from the soil.
But unfortunately, it is keeping you from growing…
Roots spring up
… Lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; Heb 12:15 (NKJV)
If you don’t keep your eyes on Jesus – you will fall short of His grace. Unforgiveness in your life will remain hidden, sapping your joy – but eventually it is going to show up, and others are going to be hurt.
You might be thinking – then they will just have to get over it, like me. The problem is – you haven’t gotten over it. And now you are in the category of “sinners that oppose”.
Ultimately, look where the writer tells us this will lead.
16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Heb 12:16-17 (NKJV)
Ultimately bitterness will cause you to lose the race.
Here’s the deal. The people that hurt you shouldn’t have. You know why they did? They got their eyes off of Jesus. And a root of bitterness “sprang up”. Someone hurt them, and they did not forgive. Likewise with the person that hurt them. If it was possible, you would be able to follow that “seed/root/plant” of bitterness clear back to Adam.
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Gal 6:1 (NKJV)
I say – Let it go! Forgive the person that hurt you. You say, “That’s not easy”. Of course it isn’t easy! Who said life was easy?
It can happen – because you are in the right place…
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
We’re committed to keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, and not on you. This is not an unmerciful, judgmental place. What is it this place?
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Everything is different now. It’s not about judging. It’s about winning. It’s about the Old Testament faithful that finally won in Jesus Christ sitting in the stands cheering you on. It’s about angels rejoicing when you repent. It’s about a Savior that shed his blood – blood that cries out for forgiveness instead of vengeance.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
God is speaking to someone here today. He’s saying “Your world has been shaken, and it will be shaken again. But if you keep your eyes on me – you will be there at the end.”
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
So, when it gets down to it… It’s about you and Jesus. |
