DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Hebrews 10:35-11:7 (01/05 or
01/18)
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week after Pentecost
Therefore: Hebrews 10:35-11:7, especially vs. 6: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” This
passage begins with the word, ‘therefore’ (vs. 35), which leads
into a conclusion of several readings from chapters 8-11 in the Epistle to the
Hebrews. The whole series of
passages invites us to meditate on the ineffable, unrepeatable blood-sacrifice
of Christ our God on the Cross for our salvation, His gift made while incarnate
among us as the God-Man.
The Apostle uses ‘therefore’ to prompt us to
respond to God’s actions. The
Lord God extends His amazing favor to mankind. Thus, Saint Paul says,
‘therefore.’ Have we
heard the messages of the Bethlehem angels or of the word from the angel at the
empty tomb? “Therefore, do not
cast away your confidence...” (vs. 35)! Do not be frivolous! Be guided by Christ’s Apostle to
“...receive the promise” (vs. 36) as well as the “...great
reward” (vs. 35).
Initially, the Apostle prompts us to ‘receive’
the great reward and not draw back (vss. 38,39). Confidently refuse to retreat! Indeed, we need
“...endurance...” (vs. 36)!
How else can we counter the weakness of our flesh and the covert
diversions of the enemy? Militating
against us are our very own desires for immediate gratification. The devils play on these weaknesses.
Without endurance for “...a little while...”
(vs. 37), we might “...draw back to
perdition...” (vs. 39); but we can take God at His word. Eternal destruction will not be our
lot. The Apostle has the truth:
those who trust God do endure. In
other words, those who know that God is absolutely faithful do not draw
back. Such people save their souls. Therefore, trust God, the most certain
One in Whom we may place confidence.
“He...is coming [and] will come and will not tarry” (vs.
37).
Then, the Apostle reviews what it means to “...live
by faith...” (vs. 38). “...faith is the substance of
things hoped for...” (vs. 11:1), the essence of
our hope even though it cannot be proven by mere physical senses. If you can touch,
taste, see, hear, smell what you hope for, then you have information, not
faith. Apostolic faith does
not depend on the senses, although there is “...evidence of things not
seen...” (vs. 1), of what is yet realized. For example: if a trustworthy representative
of a reliable Person reports that the Person we expect “...is coming...
and will not tarry...” (vs. 37), we are willing to get ready for the One Who is coming.
We keep alert.
Often, in this earthly life, we trust. We accept the fact that “...the
worlds were framed by the Word of God...” (vs. 3),
although we did not see creation happen. We accept that the world is orderly,
reliable, and consistent. Thereby,
we infer, from things ‘seen’ the ‘unseen’ hand of God
Who makes everything. The Apostle’s
assertion rings true: “...that the things which are seen were not made of
things which are visible” (vs. 3).
They were created by the invisible God out of nothing. God brought everything into being by His
Word. He spoke and it was so.
Trust the Incarnate Word through Whom God speaks. He created all things and holds
everything in existence. How else
did Abel offer an acceptable sacrifice to God (vs. 4)? What do you make of Enoch not dying, but
simply being “...taken away so that he did not see death” (vs.
5)? He pleased God by his faith
(vs. 5)! What God asks is not
beyond our ability.
God is a rewarder of
“...those who diligently seek Him” (vs. 6). ‘Therefore,’ embrace the
Apostles’ reminder of God’s creation and of Christ luminous victory
in the flesh. Consider the Lord
Jesus’ amazing and wondrous life, Crucifixion, death ‘and’
His glorious Resurrection. May we
now prepare for salvation, for a far greater salvation than Noah ever received
(vs. 7)!
Grant me to know Thy
love, and make me like unto Thee, O Lord, my God.
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