LISTEN TO HIM!

In the book of Exodus, once the children of Israel had been led to the foot of Mount Sinai, they were carefully instructed about the dangers on the mountain. The mountain itself was thick with the glory of God, and the people were sore afraid. Fences were erected so that no one might stumble into the fiery presence and perish. We read in this account from Hebrews that even Moses was trembling with fear. Isaiah too fell on his face in the Divine presence. John fainted as he received the revelation.

Awesome indeed is our God. There is no media like George Burns character indicated here in this passage. No, being before God's awful throne is and ought to be a fearful event. An agnostic once told his Christian friend that if there was a God, when he died he was going to tell that God what he really thought! The Christian observed that he really didn't think that God cared what an unbeliever thought.

Again, a few years ago one of the major News magazines highlighted the teaching of Friedrich Nietzsche on their cover banner which boldly blazed the phrase: "God is Dead" - Nietzsche. The following week a cartoonist had the last word when in a rival publication a cartoon tombstone was engraved: "Nietzsche is Dead" - God!

To paraphrase another media image that you may be more familiar with as we come into the presence of God: "Toto _ this isn't Kansas!" No, it isn't! Mere words cannot convey the awesome fear felt by saints and sinners alike at Mount Sinai. Even Moses trembled. But you say, the coming of Jesus was different?

Yes, in a way it was. In baby Jesus the love of God appeared to deliver us from the righteous wrath of God. And yet, all those who came to Bethlehem bowed down and worshipped Him. Here He was the promised King in His first advent, a mere child. How ever so much more approachable than the mighty overshadowing appearance at Mount Sinai.

But we have to remember that the baby grew, in time He became a man's man as Pilate envied His still being able to stand defiantly after taking a beating that would have humbled even a Sampson.

It is to this Jesus we have come today. Not to the traditional babe in the manger, but to God Himself revealed in the flesh. How easy it is for the worldly to dote on a mere babe in a manger. God in this form is the least threatening image that the media can imagine.

And every year, it seems that the various news magazines reserve Christmas time to trot out the newest heresies and the lamest theology ever written. Recently, one of the major magazines featured an article on the topic of religion in cyperspace, that is on the world wide web.

The authors had enough gall to announce that the internet was drawing all religions closer and of course, the only web sites that were mentioned were those which neatly fit the preconceived notion! Anyone who has even a cursory knowledge of religion on the web knows full well the vast unbridgeable gulfs that separate the true faith from the fanciful, the farcical and the fraudulent!

Even as the web gives a new voice to the evangelical and reformed distinctives, so too does it classify any number of pagan rituals and new age rumblings as equal choices on the smogesboard sample menu.

How much we need to hear of the Christ who came and died on the cross. It is He who we are challenged to hear, believe and obey by our author in Hebrews today. The Greek of verse twenty-two is down right personal. It implies that you who have come into faith in Jesus Christ have come into a greater throne room than Mount Sinai.

Read again: Hebrews 12: 22-24

I know, it is Christmas time, the world would rather hear about the baby Jesus who threatens only old King Herod. But baby Jesus grew in grace and wisdom and for three years He preached and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He even rode into Jerusalem as a King claiming His Kingdom. He did not ascend the promised throne at that time. However, He has promised us that there will be a second advent when He comes again.

Look carefully at the details of this "once more" appearance. Our writer here would have us understand that if the first words thundered at Mount Sinai were terrible to be heard, just wait until King Jesus returns at the end of the age. Here in the final verses of this chapter, the last and final day is well described in proper biblical images. All that is known and sensed will disappear.

All that is perishable will perish and only the imperishable will survive. We who belong to the Kingdom will part of that imperishable order. In order to appreciate this fact, let us turn back in out text to the promise of verse twenty-four. Here we find the reason why we are not consumed by God's judgment. It is because of the nature of the Christ to whom we come.

He is the mediator of a new covenant, and His sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. We remember from Genesis that Abel's blood cried out for vengeance. By comparison, the blood of Christ atones. By that word atonement, we mean that we are individually covered by the blood of Christ.

He it is who reigns in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. By coming to Him, we join a fellowship that numbers the joyful angels and the assembled saints from both Testaments. These saints include all those whose names are written in heaven. And if our names are written there, we have naught to fear because our God who judges all men, has covered our sins with the righteousness which is Christ's.