Jump Start # 1411

Hebrews 10:32 “But remember the former days, when after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings”

  The writer of Hebrews takes brethren down memory lane with our verse today. This isn’t precious memories nor fond times that they are recalling. It was a stressful, fearful time of abuse, persecution and unfairness. He names a few specifics here:

• Being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations
• Some were prisoners
• Some had their property seized

Through this they were confident, hopeful and joyful. Now, they were getting weary. Some were tired of it all. Some quit. Some were thinking about quitting. The journey through pain was long and it seemed to not be ending. Endurance was the key. These verses head straight into the hall of fame section of chapter 11. People of God who suffered yet walked by faith.

The former days is how our verse begins. Remember the former days. There are two periods of former days in our lives.

The first period is before we came to Christ. It was those days that we were off in the far country, estranged from God and living without hope. Had we died during those days, the outcome and our eternity would not have been good. The teenage years, the college years—a lot of sins. A lot of disappointing God. There is no fondness in remembering the wrongs that we did. There is much regret and thankfulness for forgiveness.

The second period is when we first became a Christian. Do you remember the first time we took the Lord’s Supper? The newness. The freshness. The excitement. The joy. The hope. The happiness. Those newborn days in Christ were exciting. For some of us, there is that memory of saying our first public prayer. Or, the first time we helped serve the Lord’s Supper. There was nervousness yet excitement.

For the Hebrews, something had happened. The same can happen to us. The river of life flows on and our faith, commitment and joy can become stale. We drop into a routine and go through the motions without giving worship much thought. We become dull. We become bored. Some become restless. We’ve learned the basics. We gone through a few years and now it all seems the same. The Hebrews were told to remember their great faith. Remember how strong they were. Remember how uncompromising they were. Remember how sure they were. Remember how close they were to the Lord. What had changed wasn’t the message, but their faith. For the Hebrews, the constant suffering was taking it’s toll. For us, our faith can grow old and tired. When that happens today, people quit, like the Hebrews wanted to do. Others chase new ways, new ideas, new methods, new theology. They are looking for that great feeling to fill the emptiness that has now taken over their hearts.

The same thing can happen in a marriage. Kids, bills, routine takes over and the excitement, thrills and spark of romance has been replaced with collapsing in bed each night exhausted from all the demands. This is all it takes for some to be enticed to chase some fun outside of marriage. A co-worker, a neighbor, a friend, is all the opportunity they need to break their promise and vows to God and their mate. A bored marriage usually fizzles out and dies. A dull faith will do the same. If the answer isn’t elsewhere, then what is the answer?

Ephesus had lost their first love. Revelation two reports that. They were told to do the deeds you did at first. Before that was to take place, there were two “R” words. First, remember. Remember from where you were fallen. This is what the Hebrews were told. Remember the former days. That’s the key to a stale marriage. Remember dating. Remember opening car doors. Remember leaving notes. Remember. That’s the same for a stale faith. Remember getting to the church building early. Remember sitting up front. Remember writing everything down. Remember praying all the time. Remember telling all your friends about Jesus. Remember.

The other “R” word is repent. What you are doing isn’t working. For Ephesus, they have left their first love. It’s time to change things. These changes must be internal. They must be from the heart. To keep doing what you are presently doing, spells doom. Losing your first love is just a few steps from leaving your first love. The Hebrews were heading that way. Remember. Repent. Then comes “doing the deeds you did at first.”

It’s easy to point fingers at others. I’m this way because of the preaching. I’m this way because of the old church building we worship in. I’m this way because of those old songs we always sing. I’m this way, because you led me this way. Really? It’s not the songs, building or preaching. It’s a faith issue. It’s an internal, not external thing. I’ve seen this same spirit in new church buildings. I’ve seen this same spirit where modern songs are sung. Remember, repent and do—are personal. They are internal. They are the very things that will jump start a faith.

Remember the former days? Are you where you ought to be? Have you backed off and backed away from the Lord? Have you allowed the little things to get in your way? Have you given up on your spiritual goals of years gone by?

Remember the former days. My dad has been cleaning out some of his closets. He’s found boxes of old lectureship booklets, some when I first started preaching. He saved them. He’s found boxes of some of the first bulletins I wrote. He’s saved them. He called me. We had a wonderful journey down memory lane talking about those long ago days.

Remember…

Roger