Image: "Awaiting the Return", 2013, Vicinity of Bar Harbor, Me
Hebrews 13:1–2 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:13–16 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Hebrews 13:20–21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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In this chapter, we have a summary exhortation to closeout a letter which the author himself calls "the word of exhortation". (vs. 22) This beautiful epistle is addressed to the saints of every age, standing like the pier above, waiting for the refreshing tide to return again. Our Lord has come in the flesh and gone in the flesh (though still with us in Spirit). Sometimes, as we scan the horizon, it may appear as if the "times of refreshing" (Acts 3:19) are gone forever, but our author calls us to persevering faith. We have a High Priest Who has entered into the Holiest of Holies, through the veil of His own flesh and sanctified us by washing us with His very own blood. He has saved us to the uttermost and, having paid such a high price, He will certainly not forget us or His promise to return. It is our call to wait patiently and expectantly and... in holiness.
This last call to holiness before the Lord is the subject of this last chapter. The author is convinced that God has called His Church to be always prepared for His Son's return. Jesus taught us this in many parables such as that of the ten virgins. (Mat. 25:1ff) He wants us to be "complete in every good work" in doing His will and thus to be "well-pleasing" in His sight. (vs. 21) This is to be evident in all of our individual lives but particularly in our corporate witness.
God's command to individual holiness is unto the end that there will exist an entire body of people, collectively recognized as the Church of Jesus Christ, that commends to the world a lifestyle of holiness. To this end, as in this chapter, His commands are addressed to an entire body of believers. These believers will be organized, administered, and disciplined under leaders who are designated "rulers." (vs. 7, 17) Thus, there will not be chaos and disunity in faith and practice but rather there will be a "separate people", a culture, a social order, that displays the hallmarks of grace (vs. 9).
This witness of holiness will not, and cannot, be that of absolute sinlessness. Rather it will be recognized by their attitude toward sin, forgiveness, and love. They will guard against sin in the home and their marriage beds. (vs. 4) They will strive to be worthy of the sacrifice offered up on their behalf (vs. 13) and recognize their common bond in sharing in that sacrifice. Therefore their brotherly love will rise above petty covetousness and sincerely rejoice in others' special blessings and providential supply. (vs. 5)
Most of all, however, even in the face of fearsome persecution and spiritual warfare, this society will resound in continual praise. They will offer up the "fruit" of their lips in this "sacrifice" in the full knowledge that their God is "well pleased" in such things. (vs. 15)
Thus, unlike the rather bleak, static, pier in the image above, this "nation" will be dynamic and bright. They will wait in hope, having a taste of God's blessings now and knowing that a full feast awaits. Their eyes are indeed on the horizon, beyond which they know they have a "continuing city" that is to come. (vs. 14) They may be temporally in rags, bleeding from wounds, grieving over their loved ones, or otherwise subject to trial, but they are never defeated. They cannot be defeated because Jesus Christ "is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He is as He was. He will be as He is now. He cannot change, He cannot lie and He will ultimately prevail over all His enemies in time as He prevailed over them on the cross.
This is the Spirit of Hope and "He" is the animating power that enables and empowers the witness of God's special people.
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