Hebrews 12:25-29

²⁵See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Unshakable God

In our reading for today, we find the last of the five warnings given to God`s people by the author of Hebrews. In this warning, the author recalls the time of the Exodus, when the Israelites in the wilderness continually failed to listen to God`s messenger Moses, and as a result they reaped the judgment of God`s wrath.  “Don’t let the same thing happen to you,” the author of Hebrews is essentially telling God’s people, “God can and will bring judgment again, if you, like the Israelites of old, refuse to listen to him.”

These words of warning in this passage are sobering!  They would have been for initial readers, and they are for us now. We need to keep reading though, because as is the case throughout Hebrews, words of encouragement are not far behind the words of warning. The writer of Hebrews goes on to tell his readers that their God, who can shake the earth with his voice, rules over a kingdom that cannot be shaken, a kingdom they will someday receive. What an encouragement that is!  Although we live shakable lives on this shakable earth, we belong to an unshakable God who reigns over an unshakable kingdom – a kingdom we will someday inherit because of what Christ has done for us. For this, as the author of Hebrews notes in verse 28, we should thank God and worship him “with reverence and awe.” As we experience life on this shakable earth, let’s remain steady through practicing thanks and praise.

Prayer: Unshakable God, we thank you for the gift of your unshakable kingdom. Prepare us for the coming of your kingdom by making our hearts firm in faith, hope, and love, serving you and our neighbor in the name of Christ our Savior. Amen.