Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-24 (ESV)
“For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
Our children hate spicy food. In fact everything they don’t like is termed spicy. Spicy food is spicy. Salty food is spicy. Flavoursome food is spicy. Toothpaste is spicy. Spice is the antithesis of everything delicious. In fact whenever we cook them a new meal, the first thing one of my kids would ask is “Is this spicy?”. Spice is something they are somehow inherently scared of. But, we love spicy food. Many (most?) adults enjoy the rich flavours of the spice world. There is a change that happens when one moves from childhood to adulthood that really enriches the experience of spicy food.
There is a similar change that happens between the old and the new covenants, although on a much grander scale. What the author of Hebrews references here is the fact the under the old covenant, even Moses was terrified of the glory and the power of God as he manifested himself on Mt Sinai. God’s presence was so overwhelming that the people begged not to even hear God speak. God’s glory and power and holiness was so different from the sinful human state that people cowered in fear.
But that was the old covenant. We are now in a new covenant in Jesus’ blood. We don’t approach a terrifying unapproachable God on Mt Sinai. We have a direct relationship with God, who meets us on Mt Zion. Mt Zion is a place where uncounted angels celebrate and feast eternally. Mt Zion is a place where Christians gather together with the angels to join in this feast. Christians here are called the “Assembly of the firstborn”. This phrase signifies the privileged position Christians hold as adopted children of God. Look who else hangs out at Mt Zion? God the Father, judge over all, is there. Except he isn’t there to judge us, even though we were sinful. Why? Because we have been made righteous through the blood of Jesus. Finally, we see that Jesus is there too – the mediator of this better covenant. What a wonderful festal gathering this will be!
The author of Hebrews writes all these things because he is reminding his readers that as difficult as their lives are right now, their future looks far, far better than anything they can imagine. Their and our, future with God is far more exciting and joyful than even being in the presence of God when he appeared to Moses.
Every Christian will share in this future, why wouldn’t we cry out with John at the end of Revelation: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.”
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the new covenant I share in your blood. Thank you for the joy I will one day have when you and I, together with the angels, feast together! I so look forward to that! Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
This week, whenever you are tempted to become discouraged, remind yourself of the truth of the joy of your future with God.
Bonus Thought:
I know the writer of Hebrews was being poetic when he called Christians, the Assembly of the Firstborn. It really captures the privileged position we share as adopted children. But, I also think that “The Assembly of the Firstborn” is an excellent name for a cult if you wanted to start one…