Every Thursday morning a small group of my buddies and I get together to read a chapter from the Bible and share with each other what, from the reading, jumped out to us. This past Thursday we read Hebrews chapter 6 and my friend John shared the following as versus 4-6 spoke to him. Please read it to the end … it’s worth it.
- Hebrews 6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again and put him to open shame.
- Wow, this verse just made my heart and my stomach sink for several reasons – definitely calls you up short, makes me gasp. When I was younger, I tasted the good word of God but then with the powers of the ages I fell away. Heck I even received the Christian prayer award in grammar school, and look what I allowed to happen to me, the path I chose, my path. I fell away, and here the author says it’s impossible to renew myself again in repentance. That is a damning statement. It’s easy to fall for the surface statement that all things are possible through Christ, but after rejecting him, how do you expect him to react? How would you feel? Beaten, tortured, crucified killed for such an ingrate as me. This statement is pretty black-and-white here and without the gift and belief in the love and forgiveness of God, hard not to feel absolute despair.
- I thought a lot about how every sin comes with it a ringing of a hammer off the nail being driven through your body and it makes me cringe – now more than ever. For so long I lived without that realization and lived for me. I’d always get back to him later, and after all, I was reading the Bible every day, but I just wasn’t living it.
- Lord let me be acutely and intensely aware of the effects of my sin on me and on you. You gave it all for me, and I betrayed you through my sins. What an indicting and condemning thought; betraying the one who gave His all for you. Yep, it’s easy to get caught up in this world and the powers of the ages, the daily distractions and manipulations. I am sad and grateful for that ringing reminder of your nails which you took for me.
- Lord, you are the God of second, third, and 50th chances. I could not have your patience, but I am so thankful and grateful for your loving and forgiving heart. I know that forgiving is not forgetting, and all of our acts have consequences – I get it. I will not forget, and I am home to stay. Lord what I ask you to continue to forgive my weaknesses and to accept me as your son. You gave me another chance in the mountains, and I am committed not to squander that. You welcomed me home as a prodigal returning and I’m committed never to leave again, never to go back to those old ways. Together we close that door, and together we open the new one to my new purpose and mission. Once again, you rescued me and there is no turning back ever. I look forward to every day walking with you into a new adventure, a new battle against darkness and evil, into assured victory in your love, your grace and your mercy. I am yours Lord 100%; please strengthen me every day and let me grow and expand into this new being so recently created. I give thanks and praise and pray in your holy name. Amen.
Are you able to spend time weekly reading the Bible? I encourage you to get together with someone and do it weekly. It will change your life for the better. If you don’t have anyone available to study with, send me a note and I’ll join you.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – Romans 10:17