Keener Vigilance
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2:1).
The letter to the Hebrews contains the longest sustained argument of any book in the Bible. With a careful and closely knit discussion, the author moves with confidence step by step through an elaborate proof of Christianity’s pre-eminence over Judaism. The recipients of the letter were on the point of giving up their Christian faith and returning to the Jewish beliefs and practices of their ancestors because of the pressure of outward trial and opposition. At frequent and appropriate places within the theological discussion, the author inserted earnest admonitions based on the argument in the immediately preceding section. (Hebrews 2:1-4, 3:7, 4:13, 5:11, 6:20, 10:19-39, 12:23-29)
From Chapter 2 we learn that the Hebrew Christians were wavering, and “for this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1, NAS). The theme throughout the letter is that Christ, in every way, is superior and sufficient:
- He is better than the prophets (Hebrews 1:1)
- He is better than angels (Hebrews 1-2)
- He is better than Moses (Hebrews 3)
- He is better than Joshua, better than the Sabbath, and better than all other priests (Hebrews 4)
The high point of the argument is reached in Hebrews 4:14-16. The thought is that since he is better than all these, we need not drift. We can turn to the high priest who understands the pressures, trials, opposition, perplexities, and suffering. One of the key words in the epistle is “therefore,” which occurs 15 times, depending on the translation. It is listed five times in Hebrews chapter four, where we come face to face with certain earnest admonitions and solemn resolves, to which the Apostle would strenuously bind us.
“Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short or it” (Hebrews 4:1).
The word “therefore” refers to an evil example which had occurred centuries before (Numbers 13:30, 14:10, 23-31, Hebrews 3:17-19). The writer will not allow history to be wasted upon us. In effect he says, “See what befell your fathers in the wilderness. Observe what unbelief did for them.” Unbelief blinds the eyes, dulls the imagination, and stupefies the conscience. Unbelief is not always necessarily defiance or open hostility to divine revelation or requirement.
There is always something about which to “fear,” to be reverently anxious. We are not to be anxious in the sense that turns anxiety itself into unbelief, we are to be anxious in an intelligent, devout, expectant sense. We are to guard against some possible weakness in character lest some little thing should spoil or limit our inheritance in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul
The reason given for this exhortation is historical and experimental. If other men have failed through unbelief, why may not we also fail? Failure of belief is failure of the New Creature.
There is a condition of mind that is neither hostile nor loyal. That condition may be described as largely neutral, mainly indifferent, lukewarm, and complacent, with a simple negation of attitude as to conviction and duty. This concern is specially timely for the Laodicean Church – the church of the nominal Christian who is neither wholeheartedly nor really committed to the Lord, and where the spirit of the world has not been kept out of the church.
At first the result is buying peace by compromise, being self-absorbed, self-satisfied, prosperous, wealthy, and physically at ease. Later this results in indifference, complacency, and lukewarmness, which compromises one’s perspective, motivation, witness, and availability. Indifference is antagonistic to the spirit of consecration, of self-sacrifice, and enthusiasm.
Unbelief has no rest. Unbelief shuts out all its victims from the joy and peace of heaven.
We must have a positive, definite, all-conquering faith. Yet with respect to this faith we are always to be anxious, always remembering that it is just possible that for want of a keener vigilance we may miss great opportunities of entering into the wealth, joy and haven of rest beyond the veil.
– Adapted from the discourse “Earnest Admonitions and
Solemn Resolves” by Br. David Skein