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…” vs. 22
Hebrews 12:18-24
Because the writer of Hebrew was writing to people who had become Christians and were also well-versed in the intricacies of the Hebrew scriptures, Old Testament allusions abound. Here he refers to the gathering of the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai when according to Exodus the people were terrified by the sight of the Lord’s activity on the mountain, the darkness and fire and fierce tempest. He contrasts the warnings received on that day with the celebration awaiting believers on Mount Zion. He says that the next time that we gather before the Lord there will be a festal gathering, a celebration of new life. It’s important to note that this writer does not focus on the warnings and imply that they are still in effect for those who live in Christ. Some of us have had warnings like this thrown at us by overzealous preachers who are fixated with messages of gloom and doom. Those stories are in our scriptures strictly as a point of contrast with the message of hope and comfort that is ours through Christ Jesus. One day we will stand before God, but it’ll be a day of jubilation, and not of condemnation.
Thought for the Day: How do I react to a message of gloom and doom?
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