How Shall We Escape?
Today’s Verse:
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; ~Hebrews 2:3
This morning, we are considering another “how” of the Bible. The writer of Hebrews was writing to believers who were not doing so well spiritually. They had come under the influence of fellow Jews who did not accept the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and considered Jesus lesser in authority than angels, Moses, and the law. These believers were going through various stages of spiritual decline, and they lost their fervor for the Lord and for living the victorious Christian life. These believers were being reminded that there are consequences for disobedience. The question posed to them and us was, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”
We see an absolute authority.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” What a powerful authority! God has spoken unto us by His Son! The words of our Lord are to be obeyed. We are to give the earnest heed to the things which we have heard. When we think about the power of God’s Word, we are told that, through faith, we understand that the world was made by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made by things which do appear. The word of the Lord brought the world into existence. The Word of the Lord endureth forever. When we read and hear, “Thus saith the Lord,” we have our marching orders. There is only one viable response to God’s Word, and that is to obey it.
We see an alarming abatement.
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” The believers were on a spiritual decline. Instead of having complete faith and trust in the authority of God’s Word, it was questioned and eventually ignored. It’s very easy for any of us to backslide and fall away from our fellowship with the Lord. The writer of Hebrews was alarmed at the stages of decline that these believers were going through. Whenever we begin to become casual towards God’s Word, or put off the voice of the Holy Spirit, we have placed ourselves in a precarious situation. Do you no longer get convicted by God’s Word? Are there areas in your life that you are struggling in when it comes to being obedient? Have you become spiteful of God’s commands? Have you become indifferent to the urgencies that once stirred you? If your answer is yes to these questions, then you should be alarmed at the abatement occurring in your spiritual life.
We see an approaching accountability.
“For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward.” Notice, every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. God is impartial and just when it comes to dealing with our disobedience. There is a payday someday! There is a coming judgment. God shall judge the secrets of men. God shall hold us accountable for every idle word. Changing churches to find a message that fits our tastes does not alter the fact that we are responsible for obeying all of God’s Word. Judgment day is coming.
We see an appropriate admonition.
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” Paul admonishes us by asking an unavoidable question. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Where do you think you can hide? What excuses do you think you can make that will get you by? How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? There is no escape! There is no way of avoiding standing before a holy God and saying, “I didn’t know.” The rewards in salvation carry with them responsibilities. How shall we escape?
If you see signs that you are slipping, right now is the time to correct this. Confess all backsliding and rebellion. Submit yourself entirely into God’s hand, and allow Him to perfect you in every good work. Remember to simply trust and obey.
Have a compliant God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Lamentations 4-5