The Living God

Questions to consider while preaching/teaching this passage:

-What does a sincere heart mean?

-Guthrie indicates it means to be genuine, loyal, and real.

Martin Rowe, 6 years old, lived on a small farm in rural Georgia. One day while riding on a tractor with his father the unthinkable happened; the tractor tipped over with them on it. His father would turn out okay but little Martin would not be as lucky. The accident left his one arm damaged to the extent he had it amputated. The other arm was badly damaged. Dreams vanished for him and maybe even worse for his parents.

One day while still in the hospital Martin overheard his parents concern standing outside his room. How were they going to pay the $32,000 plus medical bill?

The parents came into his room and confidently, boldly, and lovingly 6 year old Martin proclaimed, “I am going to pay my own $32,000 bill. Don’t worry about it.” As any parent would due Martin’s parent insisted this was not needed, though they appreciated his concern and love. You job is to just get well, we will be okay.

After Martin got out of the hospital he spent weeks gathering up cans alongside the road and anyplace he could. Every day after school he would go out and find more cans. Every single day he could! He discovered that he could recycle those and after his first visit collected $400. Now only another $32,000 or so to go!

After the first visit or so a large company, The Reynolds Aluminum Company, heard of Martin’s endeavor and story. They put him in touch with the Bear Archery Company from Florida. Together these two company started to send their “scraps” to him. Oh what a partnership. Martin did his part and the companies did theirs, together, mutual encouragement towards a goal.

5 long years later something happened. After 5 long years of picking up cans, being sent the leftovers and scraps Martin, now at the age of 11, walked into the hospital which cared for him and went to the billing window. There he presented his payment of $32,000 for his treatment.

Undeterred. Faithful. Resolute. Long obedience in a single direction paid off.

Long obedience in the same direction.

The idea from Eugene Peterson: Long obedience in the same direction. This is the call of the Christ follower. This is the call God is placing upon us this day.

Other words we may use to describe this same principle: loyal, committed, determined. Resolute. etc.

Right belief = right behavior.

Orthodox in beliefs should lead to orthopraxy in life. To say we believe one thing yet live out another is foolishness and hypocritical at best. This is where we need to remember the statement, actions speak louder than words.

The Shema of Deuteronomy states, “Hear Oh Israel, the Lord your God is one.” This is a statement of belief, or what we might call theology and doctrine. It is proclaiming

We must engage the whole body.

The Shema of Deuteronomy states, “Hear Oh Israel, the Lord your God is one.” This is how it starts but it doesn’t finish there. It goes on to say, “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Physical. Mental. Emotional. Spiritual.

Our story to start the message shows this. The boy had a belief that he would pay the $32,000 and engaged all he was to making sure that belief happened. It is said in many circles, “We overestimate what we can do in 1 year and underestimate what we can do in 5 years”.

What is your belief about Jesus?

This is the whole point of the book of Hebrews, and the NT. This is what separates Christ followers and the church from others. You may be saying, Pastor I have been going to church all my life obviously I believe in Jesus. That may be true but my response may be, show me how you live.

Because of Jesus we have access.

In our world sometimes it is not what we know but who we know that matters. This is true Biblically. It’s not what we know that matters but who we know, or better yet, who knows us. With Jesus you can boldly, confidently and deliberately go before the throne of God.

Let us be people of hope.

It is hope that will keep us moving forward in obedience when we want to throw in the towel. Yet, some of us live as if we have no hope. We strive for the good things of this world: status, possessions, relationships, wealth/savings all the while forgetting these too will pass away. There is nothing wrong with any of the things but when they become our focus we will lose hope.

Our world is hoping for something to happen in the future. But we have a hope not just that “something or someone” of the future will bring us good tidings or agree with us. No we have hope because Jesus is faithful!

Jesus said, “I’m coming back!!!”

This is one of his many promises. The belief, the doctrine, the theology that Jesus cannot sin, that Jesus is completely God, that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive, reminds us that when he says it, he will do it.

We need community.

The doctrine of humanity reminds us that we were created for relationships. We cannot live isolated lives. If this pandemic has reminded us of anything, and sometimes I don’t like it, our world is deeply connected. No country is completely isolated from another.

The goal of the church is not just to come into a building, sing some great songs and then go home and that is it. The church has never been, nor never will be a building. It has always been about people.

Does watching church online count? My answer: “It depends.”. The same answer I would give if someone says, “does coming to church and sitting in a pew count.”

Don’t stop being with Christians!

Don’t go it alone.

Christ’s sacrifice is final.

It is either Christ or not. The trampling under foot is saying, “There must be a different way. This cannot be it.”

The Lord will reward.

We do not have a finicky Lord. We do not have a stingy Lord. What we do matters! How we live our lives matter! Why? Because Christ matters. Because of who Christ is what we do matters. Do you believe that Christ cares about what you individually do? Do you believe he even notices? Some may believe in Christ but don’t believe this world matters much.

We have better days ahead.

Yes, this is meant in the true end. But you know what. I believe even on earth we have better days ahead. I am confident that we as a church will continue to be faithful. I am confident

Quote from Church Father Chrysostorn:

“You can not banish me for this world is my father’s house.” “But I will slay you,” said the Emperor. “No, you can not,” said the noble champion of the faith, “for my life is hid with Christ in God.” “I will take away your treasures.” “No, but you can not for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.” “But I will drive you away from man and you shall have no friend left.” “No, you can not, for I have a friend in heaven from whom you can not separate me. I defy you, for there is nothing you can do to hurt me.”

Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 2, p. 31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.