My Morning Meal

The writer to the Hebrews is consistent to the end. In his plea to Jewish believers to not drift away, he has repeatedly contrasted the old to the new, demonstrating the superiority of who Christ is and what Christ has done. Again and again, he has pointed out how the Levitical priesthood and it’s sacrifices were but foreshadows of the great High Priest and His once for all sacrifice of sin. And so, as he concludes his letter with a number of practical exhortations, he again brings them back to the old in order to encourage them in the new . . . inviting them come to the better altar.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. . . . Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
(Hebrews 13:10, 15 ESV)

There was an altar “in the tent” . . . a reference to the tabernacle of old . . . a reminder of the temple at Jerusalem. To that altar, worshipers were to bring their animal sacrifices. The best of the flock brought as an offering for sin. These offerings were taken by the priests . . . sliced and diced . . . placed on the fire . . . consumed by the flames . . . their aroma ascending upward . . . trusting that it would be a sweet smelling aroma in heavenly realms . . . that it would be sufficient atonement until the next time atonement was required.

But, says the Hebrews writer, we have a different altar. An altar “outside the camp” where Jesus suffered “in order to sanctify the people through His own blood” (13:12). And it is to this altar we are invited to come and continue to offer our sacrifices. Not animal sacrifices . . . His blood having completely fulfilled atonement’s requirements. Not sacrifices of our righteousness . . . or of our best efforts. But sacrifices of praise . . . “through Him.”

Jesus is the better voice of God . . . He is the better builder of the house . . . He is the better promise . . . He is the better High Priest . . . He is the better sacrifice . . . and, He is the better altar . . . worthy of better sacrifices.

Some have seen, in this new altar, the Lord’s table . . . others identify the altar as the cross. But I’m thinking it is simply Christ Himself . . . as it is “through Him” that we are encouraged to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.”

As we sit at His feet . . . as we know the intimate communion He promises to those who will open the doors of the heart to His knock . . . as we recline, as it were, at the table with Him . . . it is there where we have our altar. Like the woman of Luke 14, we break open our alabaster flask of precious perfume and pour it upon the head of Him who poured out His blood for us . . . we anoint the feet which bear the nail prints of love . . . we fill the room with an aroma of worship that transcends the place of offering but ascends into heaven itself. It’s the sacrifice of praise . . . offered at the altar which is Christ Himself.

And our offering . . . our alabaster box of perfume . . . is the fruit of lips that confess His name . . . remembering His humanity . . . declaring His majesty . . . ascribing to Him all authority.

Thanks be to God for the better altar . . .

(Have a few more minutes? Check out Alabaster by Rend Collective Experiment by clicking here. )

It’s been a number of years now, but I was reminded of a time we took some out of town guests to Seattle for the day. It was a beautiful day and so we did the Space Needle. We parked the car . . . bought the tickets . . . and waited to get on the elevator and go up to the top. So when did we actually get to the Space Needle? I’m thinking that if you had asked me, “Where are you?” while I was standing in line, that I would have replied, “I’m at the Space Needle.” Even though I wasn’t actually on the structure . . . not yet physically standing on the observation deck . . . I probably would have considered myself “there.” My ticket was bought . . . I could look up from the base and see where I was going . . . and, I knew how I was going to get there — by the elevator. For all intents and purposes I was there. All that was left was the ride up. Hebrews reminded me this morning that heaven’s kind of like that . . . I’m there . . . all that’s left is the ride up.

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.    (Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV)

Sometimes I can think that it is so far away . . . so distant. But the Spirit says that believers have come to the city of the living God . . . that it is a done deal . . . that we’re there . . . standing in line . . . all that’s left is the ride up.

I have come to heaven’s gates.  Oh, that I would set my mind and my focus on things above. That, through the eye of faith, I might see Mount Zion before me . . . the heavenly Jerusalem, city of the living God . . . knowing that just “up there” is a drop-you-to-your-face throng of heavenly beings. That, having been made part of the assembly, I’m registered as a citizen of heaven. Knowing that my name is written in the book . . . my reservation is recorded . . . and I’m just this side of being with that group of people who have been redeemed from every tongue, kindred, and nation.

I have come to God . . . He who is the judge of all and who, by His mighty hand, has provided the means for justification of all . . . so that whoever believes would know the imputed righteousness of Christ and, themselves, be counted as righteous and perfect. The awesome, holy, majestic God is just before me . . . and surrounding His throne are those who, like myself, have been declared “just by faith” and have already made the trip.

And, I’ve come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. I’m there . . . just a short ride away from beholding my great High Priest . . . facedown before my Savior, the One, who with His own blood, sealed God’s better promises . . . the One through whom God has spoken a better word.  I’m not gonna be there . . . I’m there . . . able now to enjoy His presence . . . able now to fellowship with Him through the indwelling Spirit of God . . . able now to bow before Him and worship Him.

What a difference it can make to know afresh that we have come to the city of the living God . . . our ticket has been purchased by the blood of the Lamb . . . our passage has been secured by the power of His Spirit and the abundance of His sustaining grace . . . and, while our final transport will either be by death or by air at His return, transported we will be. All that’s left is the ride up!

So what do we do while we’re standing in line?

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe . . .    (Hebrews 12:28 ESV)

Let’s do it!

The implications are clear . . . the purpose for the tour is driven home. As we leave Faith’s Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 the “so what” is delivered without ambiguity . . .

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . .    (Hebrews 12:1 ESV)

Look up, says the writer, and envision a grand, tiered stadium filled, level after level, with champions of the faith . . . those who have “been there and done that.” And see them cheering us on as those who now grip the baton and are called to run with endurance the race set before us. Look up and lay aside that which would hinder from running the race. The glow of Hebrews 11 is intended to give way to the holy determination to, by His grace, keep on keepin’ on.

But not only are we to be mindful of “so great a cloud of witnesses” but, as we run the race, we are to keep our eyes fixed upon the One who has already gained the victory on our behalf . . .

. . . looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.     (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)

And as I “look to Jesus” in this verse I see a familiar phrase . . . that He is “seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is the fourth time in Hebrews that I have encountered this fact (1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2). If repetition in Scripture is intended to emphasize a truth, and it is, then I need to consider this attribute of Jesus with exclamation points attached to it . . . Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in heaven!!!!

Seated because His work is finished, our great High Priest having offered Himself, once for all, as the final sacrifice for sin (John 19:30). Seated at the right hand in order to intercede on behalf of us as we run the race (Rom. 8:34). Seated at the throne of Majesty having been exalted, bearing the Name above all names (Eph. 1:20-21). Seated at the right hand of the Father as He awaits His inheritance, when all creation will be delivered under His authority (Luke 20:41-43).

And as I’m chewing on this . . . the importance of Christ now being seated at the God’s right hand . . . something comes to mind (thank You, Holy Spirit) . . . that I am seated too . . .

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus . . .    (Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV)

Seated with Him! Really? Yeah, I think that’s what it says. Running the race yet raised up and seated with Him!

Enveloped in the Victor . . . secure in the embrace of the Mediator . . . a participant in His exaltation as a trophy of His grace . . . waiting, with Him, for the blessed day when all things come together for His glory.

What position! What privilege! What a Savior!

Have a seat!

A number of weeks ago, with my son-in-law and a friend, I went to a car museum in Tacoma. Now, I’m not really a car guy . . . but there was something, almost from the moment we walked into the building, that whispered, “Impressive!” There was something about these cars being displayed, row after row, floor after floor, that drew your attention . . . invited you to lean in and inspect the detail . . . and say to yourself, “Cool!” Car enthusiast or not . . . expert or not . . . you just knew this was a special collection of cars . . . though you had to get over the fact that some of these “vintage” cars you had once driven yourself . . . ouch! . . . guess I’m vintage too.

Walking into that car museum came to mind as I entered “Faith’s Hall of Fame” this morning . . . as I started in on Hebrews 11 as part of my reading plan. Having been primed by the teaching so far in Hebrews of Christ’s superior Person and His superior Work, I am now being reminded of the Christian’s superior Walk. It began back in chapter 10, but in chapter 11 it takes wings as the Holy Spirit ushers us down hallways of exhibits of faith. “We walk by faith, not by sight,” says Paul (2Cor. 5:7). And, as we enter this God inspired trip through His redemptive story, we are presented with example upon example of those who walked by faith . . . and “the big idea” that grabs me is that, unlike our world that would say that seeing is believing, in God’s economy, believing is seeing!

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. . . . And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.    (Hebrews 11:1, 6 ESV)

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for . . . it is the substance . . . it is the foundation . . . it is the firm underpinnings upon which we interact with the kingdom of God. It is the proof of that which is intangible . . . the evidence of things not seen . . . that divine sense through which the spiritual realm is discerned and, by which, the physical world is navigated. Check out the exhibits in this section of Faith’s Hall of Fame and you’ll find the following . . .

In the “universe exhibit” we understand that all things, terrestrial and celestial, were created by the word of God . . . that in awesome power and mind-bending creativity God commanded, “Let there be . . .” and “there was.”

We then move on to the Abel exhibit and are reminded that by faith we can offer acceptable sacrifice . . . offerings that can have a permanence beyond those who have offered them. Next, we come to the Enoch portrait and we see . . . well, nothing . . . and wonder afresh at what it was to be taken up by faith . . . and in our mind’s eye we see, by faith, the day when God will gather all His children to Himself.

Then we walk into a massive hall with a big boat in it . . . knowing that “by faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” And we know, beyond doubt, that we too, by faith have entered an ark. That Christ Himself has become our rescue . . . God, by His grace, calling all who believe, to enter into Him . . . God Himself closing the door, securing us in the righteousness of His Son, for the saving of our souls.

As we move on to the Abraham and Sarah display, we’re reminded that by faith we obey ,. . . that by faith we live in the land of promise . . . and that by faith we receive power. Even though we may be going without knowing, we trust in Him who does know and calls us to follow. Even though we’re but nomads in a land of promise, we embrace our wanderings, sometimes in the desert, as, by faith, we see beyond this life and look longingly to our homeland . . . that “better country” . . . “that city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Lastly, in this exhibit, we’re reminded that, even though we are impotent in and of ourselves, we consider Him faithful who has promised, and so dare to be confident that we too can bear much fruit . . . according to His purposes . . . and by His grace . . . and for His glory.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God . . .    (Hebrews 11:16 ESV)

Empirical evidence is vastly overrated. Truly, believing is seeing! Amen?

The tone has been urgent . . . the arguments, fast and furious . . . the logic solid. We have a better High Priest who has offered a better sacrifice and has made for a better way for all to enter the Most Holy Place. But unless these great truths are mixed with something, they ring empty . . . the wonder never materializes . . . their implications fall flat. Having access to the Holy of Holies . . . being offered a new and living way opened to us . . . being invited to enter with confidence . . . all ring hollow unless the assertions of something “better” are believed . . . unless the evidence of the superiority of Christ is accepted . . . unless the examples of a greater way are received . . . unless these great truths are mixed with faith.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . .
(Hebrews 10:19-22a ESV)

The latter portion of Hebrews 10 starts the transition from emphasizing the superiority of Christ’s person and work, to focusing on the superiority of the Christians walk . . . a walk of faith.

Our boldness is founded on what we believe . . . access is opened to us because of what we have accepted . . . perseverance is possible because of who we have trusted in. And so, with full assurance of faith, we draw near.

. . . but My righteous one shall live by faith . . .   (Hebrews 10:38a ESV)

Hebrews 10:38 is the third time in the epistles that we are reminded that the just shall live by faith. In Romans 1:17 the emphasis is on THE JUST . . . those who are declared righteous through the gospel, the power of God for salvation for all who believe . . . thus, THE JUST shall live by faith. In Galatians, Paul is combating the false gospel of “Jesus plus” in order to be saved . . . that performance is necessary to attain the promise . . . and so his focus on BY FAITH . . . that it is not on the basis of human effort or discipline, but that the righteous will live BY FAITH. And here, in Hebrews, where the author is combating the temptation to “drift away” (2:1), or “shrink back” (10:39), he emphasizes that believers SHALL LIVE . . . shall walk the worthy walk, despite the circumstance, . . . by faith.

Faith is the fuel for the fire. We keep on keepin’ on because of what we keep on believing.

Thus, we draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . possessing a confidence that He who promised is faithful (10:23) . . . and fully convinced that what God has promised, He is able to do (Rom. 4:21).

. . . for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what I have entrusted to Him.   (2Timothy 1:12 ESV margin)

Great truths . . . mixed with mustard seeds of faith . . . enriched with abundant grace . . . results in those who draw near . . . those who hold fast . . . those who persevere . . .

For His glory . . . amen?

If you think about it, ours is a transient existence. Nothing really lasts . . . not even us. Sure, in terms of a lifespan, we might consider certain things to have a measure of longevity . . . some things even spanning multiple lifespans . . . but how brief is a life? God, who created us, says that we are but “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Nothing lasts . . . mists . . . even if they are multiple mists, still just mists. That’s probably why the concept of something eternal stirs the heart. To think of something beyond transience . . . to entertain the idea that something could truly be permanent . . . to believe that beyond this passing scene, there is something that will truly last. That’s why, continuing to read in Hebrews this morning, my souls is stirred by the truth of an eternal redemption.

But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.   (Hebrews 9:11-12 ESV)

Christ has secured an eternal redemption.

Eternal redemption . . . whisper those words . . . speak them over in your mind and through your lips . . . and tell me it doesn’t stir something in the inner man.

Christ . . . the Messiah . . . the Son of God . . . He who became flesh . . . He who offered Himself as a sacrifice for all sin . . . He who was buried and, on the third, rose from the dead . . . He who ascended . . . has entered, as High Priest, the holy of holy places . . . thus obtaining, for those who are His own, an eternal redemption.

I have been redeemed . . . ransomed . . . rescued. The Savior has purchased me out of the bondage of sin and death. The Shepherd has promised me that He would lead me by still waters and make me lie down in green pastures (Ps. 23:1-20. The Bridegroom will one day present me, along with all who comprise His glorious church, as a bride “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever I am.   ~ Fanny Crosby

An eternal redemption. The price, having been paid in full, is sufficient to keep forever those who have known rescue. I need not fret about whether or not “the meter will expire” . . . whether or not, I’ll be able to keep it going until the end . . . because it is His work, of which I am a benefactor by faith. My salvation is founded in His unending life, and am I now “in Christ,” enveloped in Him who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. My hope rests not in my ability to keep it going, but in the everlasting ministry of an eternal Savior on behalf of His purchased people.

Everything eventually passes away . . . but not my redemption. Everything eventually fades and decays . . . but not my reward. Everything loses its shine and glory . . . but not my Redeemer.

To Him be all praise . . . forever and ever . . . amen?