The Two Mountains
Hebrews 12.18-21 (Mt. Sinai), 12.22-24 (Mt. Zion) || The Story of God is NOT: God used to be grouchy and now He is nice. The Story of God is that He is a God of Justice while being completely good, completely righteous, and utterly LOVE. He was, He is and He will be. When we face Him on OUR terms (our abilities, our righteousness, our accomplishments), we will always be filled with FEAR OF PUNISHMENT. When we face Him on HIS terms (this is called FAITH), we will always be filled with HOPE. This is why He has shown us The Two Mountains. Both mountains are very much real. One makes demands. One makes promises. The demands show us our need for a Rescuer, the promises show us Who the Rescuer is, and that He is here for us, He is here for YOU!
Dig Deeper: Exodus 19-20, Galatians 4:21-5:1
The Blood Speaks
Genesis 4.10 || On page four of the Bible, the story of Cain and Abel unfolds. After Cain murders Abel, God says that Abel’s blood “cries out” from the ground. What does the blood say? It is the cry for righteousness. The cry for restitution. The cry for punishment. The cry for JUSTICE.
Hebrews 12.24 || When Jesus dies on the cross, His blood is spilled and “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” What does THIS blood say? It is the cry for mercy. The cry for grace. The cry for forgiveness. The cry for LOVE.
Dig Deeper: See both mountains taught by Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:1-21
Cannot Be Shaken
Hebrews 12.2 || Proverbs 9:10 says that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” but what does this mean? Does it mean we live our lives looking over our shoulder, hoping God doesn’t get mad at us? No. It means we deal with Him (and the world!) on HIS terms, not our own. We recognize that HE is LORD and we are not. HE is the author and perfecter of our faith, not us. We give thanks. We worship. We do all of this with reverence and awe. We submit to Him and we trust Him. He is the truth. He is justice. HE. IS. LOVE. But even then! We will fail. We will mess up. It is the brokenness! HE WILL NOT FAIL. THIS MOUNTAIN WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. HIS POWER WILL PREVAIL! HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED, HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!