Terrorism, a failing financial market, rising unemployment rates, the legalization of same sex marriages state by state, and increasing psychological trauma contribute to an air of instability in our nation. In Dr. Evans’ next message, “The Stability of the Cross,” he answers the question for Christians, “What is going on spiritually?” Dr. Evans explains that when your world or nation experiences great instability then it is time to listen for the voice coming down from heaven. God is speaking.
We have a new covenant relationship with God. During the first century, the author of Hebrews addressed Jewish Christians who were contemplating committing apostasy by returning to Judaism instead of continuing with Christ. Their spiritual struggle was the result of instability in their world caused by a hostile environment and persecution. The author contrasted their new relationship to God because of Christ and His cross in an effort to encourage them. He did this by using an illustration concerning Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. The former, Mount Sinai, represented the old covenant and was characterized by the terror of God’s holiness and the fear of judgment for disobedience. The latter, Mount Zion, represented the new covenant mediated by Christ that offered better heavenly realities and relationships. A major benefit of the new covenant for us, as believers, is that the blood of Jesus requests our pardon in place of the just judgment we deserve from God.
God shakes up our lives so that we can hear His voice. When God spoke to Israel at Mount Sinai, His voice physically shook the earth. Likewise, when the circumstances of our personal lives or the affairs of our nation become shaky, it may be that God is speaking to us. Our response, both individually and as a nation, should be to listen to Him and to heed His words. Why does God shake up the affairs of men? It is to detach our affections from this world and reorient them to Him. At times, God uses painful circumstances to cause us to desire the new direction He has planned. How do we know on an individual level when our lives are getting shaky? Sleepless nights of worry, feelings of fear concerning the present, great uncertainty about the future, or instability in the normative stable areas of our lives, among other things, may indicate that things are getting shaky. In spite of our current life situation, the good news is that because of Christ and His cross we, as believers, will receive an unshakeable kingdom from God.
Thanksgiving is the proper response to God’s overwhelming grace. How should we respond to the awesome grace we have received from God because of Christ and His cross? The proper response to the incalculable gift of an unshakable kingdom is gratitude. We read this in verse 28 of Hebrews chapter 12 that says, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” We demonstrate this gratitude through acts of service. The atmosphere for our service should be that of a reverent awe before the Lord. In other words, our service interlinks with our worship. Why should we live in this manner? Because the next verse in our passage reminds us “…our God is a consuming fire.” God purifies His servants by removing all impurities that are not fitting to remain in His presence.
Our world, both personally and nationally, may suffer from instability, but the benefits wrought by Christ through His cross are unshakable, stable and purifying. We have received allowance and participation in a new covenant relationship with God through Christ. This covenant surpasses the previous one given to Moses and Israel on Mount Sinai through a multiplicity of benefits. Christ’s blood that He shed on the cross on our behalf guarantees our forgiveness before God. Even in an unstable world, we can have confidence in the stability of God’s kingdom. Such truth should evoke grateful service in an atmosphere of worship to God. In this way, we live as kingdom citizens in this present age.
