Jump Start # 121

Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

  This is how the book of Hebrews begins. What a declaration! The readers of this book were Jewish Christians, thus Hebrews. They were struggling with their faith. Persecution had played a toll upon them. Some were quitting. As Jews they did not suffer. As Christians, life was hard. Some were thinking about quitting. This book was written as a defense of Christianity. It establishes arguments why throwing out Christianity won’t work. First and foremost, in doing so, they were throwing away their salvation. Hebrews is about Jesus. He is superior to angels, Moses and the prophets. His law is superior to the Law of Moses. His sacrifice is superior to the O.T. sacrifices. His priesthood is a superior priesthood to what was under the O.T. Leaving Christianity is leaving the best.

  Our verse today begins these very thoughts. A long time ago God spoke in different ways. He talked directly to Adam, Noah and Abraham. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. In Daniel, there was the mysterious hand writing on the wall. Balaam’s donkey once spoke a message that God wanted declared. Different ways, different means. But now, God speaks through Jesus. In saying this God declares several important facts in these verses.

1. We are in the last days (“in these last days has spoken to us in His Son).

2. Jesus is the creator (“through whom also He made the world”)

3. We see the relationship of Jesus to God (“in His son”).

4. Jesus is the message today (“has spoken to us in His son).

  As the book of Hebrews unfolds, it is obvious and apparent that God speaks through Jesus today. The message is the N.T. This is the word that will judge us (Jn 12:48). This is what was preached into all the world.

  If this is true, and I believe it is, then it means God will not speak directly to me, in a voice, vision or feeling. Why? Because in these last days He speaks through His son. The message is the same for everyone. Long ago it wasn’t. There was a message for Abraham—leave the city of Ur. The message was different for Noah—build an ark. But the message today is universal. It is the same for all of us—whether we live in the city or out in the country. It is the same message in America as it is in Europe or Africa. At the transfiguration of Jesus, when Peter wanted to make some memorials to Moses, Elijah and Jesus, God interrupted and said, “Hear my son.” It is the Gospel message that was taken into all the world and preached.

  Be careful of people who claim God told them what to do aside from the N.T. message. People claim God told them things in dreams. People claim that God gave them a message. And when you listen to these accounts you find out that it’s different things being told in different ways. I come back to this passage. Those days are over. God is speaking through Jesus. It is the message of the N.T. It is the same message for everyone. God wants you to be saved by being obedient to the N.T. message. God wants you to be a disciple of His Son. God wants you to spend forever with Him in Heaven. That’s the message. That’s the N.T.

  And there is great comfort in this. I do not have to fear that I missed something God said. I have the message. I have the N.T. Likewise, I do not have to fear that God changed things and I didn’t get the changes. The message is the same. It is the N.T. I simply need to know, read and follow that message. This is what God was wanting the Hebrews to know. It is what God wants you to know as well.

Roger