Introduction:
It
was March 18. Leanne tried not to think about the fact that Melvin would have
been 39 today. The face of the man driving the van flashed in her mind. She
tried not to be angry. Once more, the scream of brakes, the crash, and then the
silence replayed itself in her memory. She remembered the sound of the blades
whipping through the evening sky as the helicopter carried Melvin’s organs to
others whose very life depended on his final gift.
Who were they? Would she ever get to
see them? The recipient of Melvin’s heart had written twice in the year and a
half since the transplant. Leanne had finally found the courage to answer and
admit that she longed to hear that beautiful heartbeat again.
There was no way she could have
known that at that very moment, John Meinhardt and his wife Jan were signing
release forms to reveal their identity to the donor family. John’s head swam
with memories too: he could almost feel the mix of terror and ecstasy by hearing
the nurse’s casual statement that a heart had been found. He wanted to live so
much, but he had struggled with guilt, knowing that for him to live, someone
else would die.
Soon John and Leanne were choking
back tears as they spoke on the phone. “When can we meet?” John asked. “How
about in an hour at Latina’s Pizza?” Leanne replied. An hour later, Leanne laid
her head upon John’s chest and heard the heart she had loved for so long,
Melvin’s heart. The heart which had given new life to John.”[1]
Similarly, in our former state of
sinfulness, we were like the living dead. We were walking around without real
purpose and Hope. If we were to live productively, someone would have to die on
our behalf. That’s what exactly Jesus did for us. Out of His great love for us,
He died on the cross so that by believing in Him, we might live forever.
Hebrews 10:15-25
The author of the Hebrews points his
audience to this powerful truth that only through Christ can we live and enter
into heaven when we die. Hebrews 10:19, “And so, dear brothers and
sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of
Jesus.” It is not the blood of animals, but the blood of Christ that gives us
entry into heaven.
Then he explains how that has been
made possible. Vs. 20, “By his death, (Lit through His flesh) Jesus
opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.”
When Christ died on the cross, the Temple curtain tore from top to bottom,
opening a New and Life-Giving Way to all people to enter. I would like us to
look at what this new way of living contains? The author suggests a four-fold path for all
believers to follow.
I.
A WAY OF WORSHIP
Vs. 21-22, “And since we have a great
High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God
with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been
sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed
with pure water.” This new and life-giving way is not just for our pursuit, but
a call for corporate living as a Church, where we practice these principles in
a community of believers.
In an individualistic society, it is hard for us to grasp
that we need each other for our well-being. But the early Christians understood
that they were together in their pursuit of God.
Until Christ’s death on the cross, only the
High priest entered into the most Holy Place. But now all can enter confidently
because Christ made us presentable both inside and out.
Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I
plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This
is truly the way to worship him.” Let us remember this new and life-giving way
calls us to offer our lives as a living sacrifice; that is the way we worship
God.
Vs. 22, let us go right into the presence of God with
sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been
sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have
been washed with pure water.” Did you ever struggle with a guilty conscience,
which makes you think you are a failure and can never do anything right?
Guilt is a universal trait most human beings feel at
different points in their lives, including believers. Despite knowing scriptures,
at times we lack the confidence to trust God and struggle with a guilty
conscience. Let me reiterate earlier messages: Once and for all, Christ has set
us free from sin and made us righteous. He promised to forgive our past sins
and remember them no more. What God has forgotten; the devil digs them up and
makes us feel guilty.
Whenever your guilty conscience attacks you, you can
silence it by saying the blood of Christ has washed me. I am a new creation,
the old has gone, and everything became new. I am free, forgiven, and no longer
live in condemnation but live in His grace and mercy.
II A WAY OF
UNWAVERING TRUST.
Vs. 23, “Let us hold tightly
without wavering to the Hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his
promises.” By these words, the author warned them to persevere and hold
firmly without wavering what they have believed in their newfound faith.
It was perhaps preparation for the upcoming worldwide
persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. It is not that
the Christians’ persecution is stopped; even today, our brothers and sisters
worldwide are being persecuted for their faith. Paul encouraged Timothy to hold
firm with these words: II Timothy 3:12-14, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live
a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But you must remain
faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true.” The oldest half-brother of Jesus, James, has
something to say about those who are persevering under difficulties and how God
rewards them.
James 1:2-4, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of
any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy, for you know
that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So, let it
grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and
complete, needing nothing.”
Some new Christians have a rosy and idyllic view of
following Christ. They expect all should go well and all the time. Yes, there
is much joy and fulfillment in following Jesus, but that comes with hardships
and troubles. A new and Life-giving way is marked with suffering, which is a
hallmark of Christian maturity. Our Christ suffered much agony to bring us
salvation. All the apostles except one
were martyred for their faith. Are we any different? We, too, will go through
the suffering of all kinds. When you feel like giving up and can’t take it
anymore, look up and see what Christ has done for you. Remember that God is
faithful and trustworthy. He will never leave nor forsake you. He always keeps
his word.
III. A WAY OF
ACTION, NOT JUST WORDS
Vs.24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts
of love and good works.” Christianity is not a religion of good works but it is
a new and Life-giving way. It is packed with action, not with just empty words.
If you are a follower of Christ, you are called not to passive and laid-back
life but an active and productive life.
Remember at some point some people came to Jesus and
said, “we want to perform God’s works, too what should we do? Jesus told them;
this is the only work of God wants from you: Believe in the one he has
sent.” John 6: 29. This is to emphasize
the fact that our good works will not save us but our faith in Christ saves us.
The author in our passage challenged his audience to
think of ways to motivate each other to acts of love and good works. God
expects his followers to excel in love and good works.
Our Lord Jesus Christ modeled a lifestyle of servanthood.
Mk20:28, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and
to give his life as a ransom for many.” If our Lord came to serve, would he
expect anything less than that?
The Apostle Paul reminds the Ephesian believers of their
calling to do good works. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has
created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us
long ago.”
When we come together to worship, let’s think of ways “to
motivate” in another version “to stir up” one another to acts of love and good
works. During this Pandemic, let our good works shine before people so that
they will glorify our father in heaven. If someone is sick among us, we don’t
merely pray for that person, but we will show our care by cooking meals,
bringing groceries, writing letters, making phone calls and by many other ways
of help.
IV. A WAY OF
ENCOURAGEMENT
Vs. 25. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as
some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his
return is drawing near.” We live in challenging times, which is one of the
clear signs of our Lord’s return. Therefore, we have all the more reason not to
stop gathering for worship at the Church or the Livestream.
During the initial shelter in place, one of my younger
sisters sent me a poorly recorded cooking video. I gave some creative input and
encouraged her to start the “Ballas Kitchen” YouTube channel, which kept her
going through these uncertain days of COVID-19. She has her cooking channel got
about 366 subscribers. That is one example of what encouragement can do. We all crave it, but we seldom give
it to others. Therefore, let’s look for ways that we could encourage somebody
today. Let me repeat this fourfold path of the new and Life-Giving way. It is a
way of worship, unwavering trust, action, not just words, and encouragement.
Amen!
