The Pilgrim Path---Hebrews 12: 18—29

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that have been made---in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

ELECTION DAY---Day of Doom? Not Really…

The original recipients of Hebrews were undergoing great trial for their devotion to our LORD Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reminds all readers that Jesus is the One through whom God speaks---and---Jesus also “holds” the entire cosmos together (Hebrews 1: 1—3). The same Christ has made full---final---and complete satisfaction for our mountain of abominable and heinous sins (Hebrews 1: 3; 9: 11—14). All believers are now part of the, “assembly of the firstborn---enrolled in heaven.” We have to be constantly reminded that as “shaky” as this temporal world is around us, we may trust the LORD fully and go about His business: loving Him with all your being and loving our neighbor as yourself.

Interestingly, the New York Times, in recent polling found that 90% of Republicans thought if their candidate for President did not win the election---that would spell the end of democracy. Well, 80% of Democrats polled said if their candidate for President did not win the election---that would spell the end of democracy. Hey---hooray for Cables News and Social Media---they seem to be working…Thank God: their word--- is not the last word!

Martin Luther used to say in the most trying times of the Protestant Reformation, “Let’s cast out the Devil by singing a Psalm and doing God’s Will!” Good advice. As Dr. Raymond Ortlund, Jr., often quips, “Believe the truth of God---and follow the truth of God.” That is what the followers of Jesus Christ do. Are we to be salt and light for Christ where He has placed us? Most certainly---YES! Are we to be as dynamic an influence for biblical reality as possible---in as loving a way possible? A thousand times---YES! But we rest in this: we are enrolled in Heaven already because of the amazing cross work and resurrection of Jesus. We are a part of a Kingdom that can NEVER be shaken. One day, the LORD will return and shake everything “lose” to put in place a New Heavens and A New Earth. No need to think an election---even with potential ideological shifts---will spell “doom” for all mankind…Some of our persecuted Christian friends overseas have said we have not known enough of the, “trial of faith” in the United States. How about that? Strengthen Us Living Savior---and Help Us Honor You Always…

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

We have many things in our possession at the present moment which can be shaken, and it ill becomes A Christian man to set much store by them, for there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all things. Yet, we have certain “things which CANNOT be shaken,” and I invite you this morning to think of them, that if the things which can be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain. Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy PRESENT SALVATION. You are standing at the foot of His cross, trusting alone in the merit of Jesus’ precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in Him; no breaking of banks, no failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a CHILD OF GOD this morning. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of THAT. Although by losses brought to poverty, stripped bare, you can say, “He is my Father still. In my Father’s house are many mansions; therefore, will I not be troubled.” You have another permanent blessing, namely, the LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST. He who is God and Man loves you with all the strength of His affectionate nature---nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may cease from the field, it matters not to the man who can sing, “My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” Our best portion and richest heritage we cannot lose. Whatever troubles come, let us play the man; let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by what may happen in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel’s Land, our hope is above the sky, and, therefore, calm as the summer’s ocean; we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation.

A Prayer from John Calvin, November 29, 1550:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, inasmuch as it pleases you for the image of your justice to shine in princes and magistrates, whom you have armed with the sword that they may rule in your name, grant us the grace that this blessing might also shine openly among us, that by this sign you might witness that you are not only favorable toward us, but also have cared for our salvation, and have watched over our welfare and well-being. And may you so enlighten us by your Word, that it may never become obscured among us because of any depraved or inordinate desire for money or things, but may it ever retain its pure clarity, that we might walk in the right path of salvation, which you provide and ordain, until at last being gathered in your heavenly kingdom, we might enjoy this eternal inheritance which you have acquired for us through the blood of your only-begotten Son, our LORD Jesus Christ. Amen.

HYMN

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the LORD,

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword---

His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory, hallelujah!

Glory! Glory, hallelujah!

Glory! Glory , hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat,

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;

O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on.

Julia Ward Howe (1819—1910)

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason