What Cannot Be Shaken

 Hebrews 12:18-29, Jeremiah 1: 4-10

The writer of Hebrews contrasts the old covenant of Moses with the new covenant we have now. Jesus is the mediator of this new covenant – his blood spoke more highly – brought the forgiveness than any sacrifices under the old covenant. He tells of the different attitude under the old covenant of folks fearing God which Moses experienced with the burning bush.

Our Jeremiah passage tells us about the call of Jeremiah to be a prophet. God told him God would put God’s words in his mouth. In Hebrews we are warned to not refuse our new Covenant mouthpiece. Through Christ’s work on the cross, God can speak directly to us.

The author brings up the Jeremiah’s and other prophets from the past saying how those who didn’t listen to the warnings of the prophets didn’t escape. How less than will we who are under the New Covenant escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven. God has now promised to shake up not only the earth but also the heaven. This is explained as created things and that what cannot be shaken will remain.

What is this that cannot be shaken? It is the kingdom of God and we ourselves can remain unshaken by giving thanks to God, doing acceptable worship, and having reverence and awe for God. It appears that the Hebrews were becoming lackadaisical. Perhaps God was just becoming their big buddy. They were forgiven their sins and had been given their “Get out of hell free ” card yet forgot that God was one to be respected. Since God is a consuming fire, consuming all that can be shaken – sins and worship of things other than God, things that don’t belong in the unshakeable kingdom of God, we need to show respect.

As we heard earlier about storing up treasures in heaven may we fill our lives with the things above including love for neighbor and the fruits of the spirit. Let us work toward and devote our lives to these unshakeable things.

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