Healthy Fear
Intro:
Last week I referenced the final scene in the 2005 film “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” Again, while it has some intense scenes, it is much more of a court room drama than a horror film. (Rated PG-13)
What I find most gratifying about the film was the final scene in which the agnostic lawyer, played masterfully by Laura Linney, lays a rose on Emily’s gravestone and asks the priest, equally well played by Tom Wilkenson, what the inscription of Phil. 2:12 means, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Today, as we venture into the fourth chapter of Hebrews, I want to have discussion with you about “Healthy Fear”.
Let’s read and pray:
1 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.
Why must we fear?
(Hint: What is the “therefore” there for?)
Summary of the warning in Hebrews 3:
Remember Israel’s history! Remember OUR ancestor’s past grievances! Not everyone who left Egypt made it into the Promised Land!
In other words, Not all “Israel” is ISRAEL.
Parallel to today: Not all “The Church” is THE CHURCH.
Look again at verse one: It IS possible to come short of the promise.
For Israel in the Exodus: it was possible to KNOW ABOUT the Promised Land, and not enter into it.
For us today: It is possible to know about “His rest” (salvation/Heaven) and still come short of it.
This logically brings us to a HUGE question we need to asking.
(Who wants to venture a guess as to what that question is?)
What is the difference between those who get in (Promised Land/Heaven) and those who come up short?
Fortunately, verse two sets the stage for the author to answer this very question.
2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.
So both groups heard the word, but for the first group it did not benefit them, BECAUSE they were not untied with those who listed with faith.
In other words, they HEARD, but did not BELIEVE.
And what exactly does it mean to believe?
What exactly does it mean to be united with those who listened with faith?
What does it mean to have faith?
(Now, you’re going to think I’m a bit crazy, but I believe the author of Hebrews is asking hinting a question he will unfold and unpack for the next EIGHT chapters, before, finally, giving the quintessential answer in Hebrews 11:1, probably the most oft quoted verse to provide a working definition of faith.)
Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
Now, we will more fully unpack this whopper of a verse when we get to Hebrews 11:1 in January of 2027. (That’s not a joke, I actually tracked how fast we’ve been moving through Hebrews, about 3 chapters per year, and that puts us on pace for chapter 11 starting in 2.75 years.)
But, I love you, and some of you may be dead by then, so I thought I would at least give you a quick exegesis of Hebrews 11:1 to chew on as we close today.
The author gives us a two part definition of faith:
- Certainly of things hoped for (internal: What can I not help but believe?)
- Proof of things not seen (external: Our actions demonstrate that we indeed live by faith. The “proof” of our faith is that our faith changes what we do, even more it fundamentally changes what we are. And many of us have extremely powerful testimonies that demonstrate this faith. I used to be a philanderer, and, though Christ have been happily, faithfully married for 25 years. Dan used to be a heavy drinker, and now is not. Anyone else want to testify?
The proof is that we’ve changed, based on what we can’t yet see. And yet, others, “see” the proof of the Christ in our lives. What a humbling, amazing thought. Christ’s testimony is in us; his changed, but not yet perfected handiwork.
Never, ever ever discount the power of YOUR story. The Holy Spirit can use it to convict both the lost and saved!
Pray/QA