Hebrews 12:14-29 - Checkpoints on the journey Part 1

Have you ever been on a trip and suddenly you wonder, “Am I even going in the right direction?” This is often because of the signs and markers on the road don’t seem to agree with the direction you think you took.

So what do you do?

Stop

Check the map

Return

In many ways that has been what the writer to the Hebrews has been doing in stopping and showing the the audience that Jesus is better.

We have been called to run the race that God has marked out for us. For the audience of Hebrews, people who wanted to give up, this was what was needed. And we need it so that we know that we are not running in vain. This is what he gives these Christians as he begins to close this letter. Over these this week and next, we are going to reflect on “The checkpoints for the journey” - the markers we need to ensure that we are on the right road.

1. What am I pursuing?

Hebrews 12:14 CSB

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

We are being reminded to live with the right goals. This is asking, “Am I going in the right direction?”

Imagine taking these goals and going for a job interview and being asked, “What are the goals for your life?” And so you answer with this…

I want to see the Lord and so I am committed to pursue peace with all men and holiness.

This thinking follows right on from the purpose of God in the discipline of his sons. To share His holiness and yielding the peaceful fruit of righteousness (10 and 11).

Pursuing means...

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 68.66 διώκω

to do something with intense effort and with definite purpose or goal.

It’s a command to us toactivelt pursue the heart of God.

1.1. Pursue peace

That should be a character trait of every Christ-follower.

Psalm 34:14 CSB

14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.

Matthew 5:9 CSB

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

For the believer it’s more than looking for something that is simply elusive, but embracing what has been given and letting that overflow in our lives.

1.1.1. We pursue it because we have peace

We know it. We were at enmity with God we were reconciled with God and given peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. So when you read the Epistles - Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Thessalonians, Timothy, and Philemon - they all remind us of this. It’s a fundamental Gospel reality.

John 14:27 CSB

27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

1.1.2. We pursue it because it reveals the Gospel

When we say, “Pursue this peace with everyone”, we’re talking about Gospel fruitfulness. The peace we have received has profoundly impacted our lives and overflows to others.

Romans 12:18 CSB

18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Let’s go back to the job. But then you are given the job but the reputation you build is that you are unfriendly, unhelpful, contentious and disagreeable, dishonest and self-serving.

This world needs people of peace. We live with wars and hatred. Anmxiety levels are high - we live on the edge. This world needs peace-makers. People who bless and don’t curse. People who apologise and forgive.

This isn’t about just being nice people. This is about being ambassadors for Jesus - people who mediate and embrace the ministry of reconciliation. Ultimately point people to the prince of peace.

This could be quite radical.

1.1.3. We pursue it because it brings glory to God

We are not meant to be the ones who receive the glory.

1.2. Pursue holiness

This matters because God is holy!

1 Peter 1:15–16 CSB

15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

1.2.1. Evidence of the Holy Spirit

When the Holy Spirit is at work, the evidence of His work is holiness. That’s why in the kind discipline of the Father the outcome is a share in His holiness.

Holiness is speaks of lives that are being conformed to the image of God. God cares about our inner man - our hearts. It feels like today we are often so concerned about other things:

The hearts of others

The welfare of the physical

In all this that we neglect our own hearts.

What we speak, what we say, what we do, that this reflects and reveals the God we worship. Teaching ourselves to love righteousness and hate sin. Hate the sin in our own hearts. Hates the effects of sin. Loving righteousness.

So we are disciplining yourself for the things God loves.

1.2.2. Evidence of Gospel reality

God will teach us to say no to ungodliness. Thaat’s why we embrace the work of God in our life.

The evidence of the Gospel being rooted in our lives is not the willingness to do what we want, but a hunger for God, a love and desire for Him. Wanting to be like Him.

That’s why we can’t afford to lose sight of the cross.

1.3. Reason for this to be a priority

“Without it, no one will see the Lord.” That’s serious because there are eternal consequences.

What he is pushing on is , “do we have a desire for life of Christ to be evident in our lives?”

First 2 markers to remind us that we are on the right path:

The pursuit of peace with all men

The pursuit of holiness

2. Do I care my brothers and sisters?

Hebrews 12:15–17 CSB

15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. 16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. 17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.

This is something we are called to do together. We are called to be the church. We’re not called to do the Christian life alone. That’s a remedy for failure. The nature of the church is that we need each other.

2.1. Watch that no one falls short of God’s grace

This could be the result of a number of reasons:

Unconfessed and unrepentant sin

Lack of fellowship with God in His word and prayer

Lack of fellowship with the saints - do we care when people aren’t here.

Gospel unbeief

Do we care about the spiritual wellbeing of each other. We don’t want to see people left behind.

This world has conditioned us to think only of ourselves. Let’s change that as City Hill. The Bible says, “Let love be genuine!”

2.2. Make sure no root of bitterness springs up

2.2.1. Towards God

2.2.2. Towards other believers

2.2.3. Towards those who persecute

Bitterness can be the fruit of restment, unforgiveness, envy, coveting, enitlement - but it will leave your souls like a barren wasteland. It defiles rather that refines. So we need to do weeding because bitterness won’t produce the fruit of righteousness.

Antidote to bitterness is letting the peace of God govern your hearts. It’s realising that because of the abundance of grace I have received that I have no reason to treasure bitterness. It will just keep me from living for Jesus.

2.3. Make sure no one is immoral or godless

Captivated by sinful ways. Abandoned the way of God to pursue his own pleasure.

The example is Esau who sold his birthright for a meal. Ultimately he never found any opportunity for repentance.

What God wants for you, He wants for His church - Holy people!

Am I committed to pursuing peace?

Am I committed to pursuing holiness?

Do I care about those in my church?

Do I care that they are not falling short of God’s grace

Do I care that they are rooting out bitterness?

Do I care that they are walking in holiness?

As we conclude today let us remind ourselves of this - slightly paraphrased:

1 Peter 2:9–10 CSB

9 We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that we may proclaim the praises of the one who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once we were not a people, but now we are God’s people; we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.