Jump Start # 251

Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, after He spoke along 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 a wonderful passage that teaches us many great lessons. It is fitting that as we come to the end of the year we have a verse about the last days. The background to this verse, as the book of Hebrews opens, the theme is the superiority of Jesus Christ. This will be established throughout Hebrews. Jesus is superior to the angels. Jesus is superior to Moses. His law is superior to the law of Moses. His promises, His sacrifices, His priesthood are all superior to what was offered in the Old Testament. There is a reason for all of this. Sprinkled throughout Hebrews is some insight as to what is going on. Many of the Christians were giving serious thought to leaving Christianity and returning to Judaism. Persecution was having toll upon these Christians. They didn’t have this pressure when they were Jews. This book was written to show them that if they return, as some already had, you are giving up the best. Nothing is better than Jesus. It’s a great book for faith building reasons.

 Our verse today begins this journey. At one time, God used many ways to talk to people. God talked directly to Adam, Noah, Abraham. To Moses, God spoke through a burning bush and then made him climb a mountain for private conversations. Joseph, received divine dreams. Ezekiel had divine visions. In Daniel, God writes upon a wall with a message. Balaam’s donkey even spoke one time. God used many ways to communicate throughout the O.T. But now, it’s through Jesus. Jesus is the divine spokesman. Jesus is God’s voice. This Jesus, whom God made the heir of all and through whom all was created.

 What does this mean for us? In the N.T. it was the gospel of Jesus that was preached. People stood upon the doctrine of Christ. To reject the words of Jesus, was to reject God. Passages like Jude 3 and John 12:48 teach that. God’s message is found in the N.T. Therefore, the dreams we have, are not divine. God doesn’t speak that way today. What are they, then? Too much food late at night? Something from a movie we watched? Worry? But not a divine message. It also means that God does not use modern day prophets. His message is found in Jesus, the N.T. Interesting that John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the WORD, and the word was with God and the word was God.” He calls Jesus the word. God’s message isn’t conveyed through feelings, it is through Jesus Christ. We have a hard time with this. Folks will say, “I just feel that God wants me to do this…” Is God speaking through your feelings? Can you trust your feelings? I’ve had people tell me that they thought they were in love, but realized they weren’t. What about those feelings? Ever been lost while driving? You think you know where you are, but you don’t? What about those feelings? Feelings can be misleading. Feelings change. God doesn’t deliver something as important as His divine will through our feelings—it is through Jesus.

  Now, this leads to another thought. Notice how these are all layered together. How do you know you are saved? You feel saved? We’re back to feelings again. You say, “I just know I am.” How? John wrote in 1 Jn 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” How do you know? The words of Christ, the New Testament, shows me. It is not an emotional experience as it is a journey of obedience. You read what the N.T. says about a Christian and you look in the mirror. Your assurance comes from the solid word of God. Our confidence is in what the Bible says, not feelings, dreams or signs. You can know. You see what walking in the light is. You learn what practicing righteousness is. You imitate. You obey. You follow. Confidence soars when you know you are doing what the Bible says.

  Now, I intended to write about the “last days” of our verse. Didn’t get there. Hopefully, this has given you some things to chew on today. Search your Bible…search your heart.

Roger