Hebrews 10 reminds me of the concept of delayed gratification. That is, investing in something now to receive a greater reward later. The most motivated people have a great confidence in their desired future outcome. Today’s lesson is about endurance. The writer of Hebrews opens with a provocative statement, sure to get the attention of his Jewish audience. “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming”. He knows the lack of satisfaction from working hard, only to come up even at the end of the year. He describes “the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year” leaving them short of their goal. Everyone wants peace with God, but the temporary atonement system was simply “an annual reminder of sins”. Perhaps to shake them from their routine, he points out their failure: “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”. The purpose of the Law is to motivate. The law is like a mirror that reveals our true imperfections. It helps us see our insufficiency and desire something better. For most of us, change does not come easy. Before we seek change, we must recognize there is a problem. Are you in need of motivation?
The writer does not leave them in their frustration. He quotes from Psalm 40, as King David begins to understand that God’s mercy cannot be earned. David prophetically spoke of Christ: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire… Here I am… I have come to do Your will, my God”. The writer explains that only the sinless Messiah can save: “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. He punctuates his point with another comparison: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties”. After Messiah made “one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God”. The work of atonement is complete and now He intercedes on our behalf.
We are no longer separated from God because we have His Holy Spirit. For the rest of the chapter, the writer points out how we should react to this new lifestyle. First, through Christ, we have complete access. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings”. That access provides certainty for tomorrow and eternity: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”. While it is tempting to leave and enjoy our good fortune, that new knowledge creates a blessing when shared with others. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together”. By regularly meeting together, we help carry the burden of others. We can offer strength in times of doubt, “encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”. The writer also warns of the consequences of remaining stuck in our scarcity. “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth” there are no other resources left. Rejecting the forgiveness provided through Christ is like trampling “the Son of God underfoot”. He implores his Jewish brethren to think about when they first heard the Gospel: “those earlier days after you had received the light”. They were excited about the new hope of salvation: “you endured in a great conflict full of suffering”. He says now is not the time to go back to the old obligations. “You need to persevere”. Our hope is in God’s faithfulness: “when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised”. Success can be defined in many ways. For the Christian that means leading by example to show others the way to peace with God. He concludes with a firm conviction: “The Righteous will live by faith”. My confidence is in the forgiveness received by faith in Christ. Friend, what’s your savings plan?