Confidence in calamity
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again, and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and even more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:11–14, 19–25 (NIVUK)
As the Church year comes to an end, we look forward to the ultimate end of this world as we know it and the start of God’s promised new creation. We’ll very soon start to prepare for Christmas through the Advent season (and no doubt you have already been thinking about your Christmas plans), but before we celebrate Jesus’ first coming, we look forward to the second and what it means for God’s people.
The end of the world is not a scary thing for Christians, but a moment that we look forward to. That’s not to say that bad things won’t happen—Jesus makes it very clear that the lead-up won’t be pleasant—but the result is more than worth the pain.
The reading from Hebrews shows us that when Jesus came into the world and ultimately gave His life for us on the cross, things changed. God’s people relate with God differently now than they did before Jesus performed His saving work. Today, I’m particularly focussing on the encouragement in verse 19 onwards that says, because of Christ, we have confidence in God’s presence, we hold firmly to the hope we have because it is a sure hope, and that meeting together as God’s people is critical as we daily live out our faith.
Confidence in faith, holding firm in hope, and encouraging to love.
Confidence in faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19–22 (NIVUK)
Most traditional church buildings are designed with at least four main areas: the narthex, the nave, the sanctuary, and the vestry.
The narthex is the entrance or foyer where people come into the building before entering the main worship space.
The nave is the central and largest area in the building, where the congregation sits during services. Like all the seating in your lounge room is directed toward the TV, the pews or chairs in the nave face the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is the sacred space where the altar is situated. It is often elevated, symbolising its importance. It can also include a lectern and/or pulpit where the Word is read and preached from.
The vestry (a.k.a. sacristy) is usually a small room adjacent to the sanctuary where paraments, sacred vessels, and other worship items are kept. It’s also where clergy and assistants prepare before services.
Larger churches or cathedrals might also have a separate chapel for private prayer, transepts which are the “arms” of a cross-shaped building where the choir often sits, an apse which is a semicircular recess in the sanctuary just for the altar, an ambulatory which is not special access for paramedics to get in but a passageway for the choir or assistants to get around the sanctuary, or an underground crypt where relics are kept or people are buried.
If we just take our four more common areas—narthex, nave, sanctuary, and vestry—these are all accessible by anyone at any time, though most people don’t need to go into the vestry very often, and only enter the sanctuary to read the Word or take Communion.
We only have open access in our church buildings because of Jesus. Before that, certain areas of the temple were restricted for certain people, sometimes only for very specific times or days of the year.
When Jesus breathed His last, we know that the temple curtain tore clean in half. This isn’t just an analogy or a weird thing to have happened. The tearing of the temple curtain is the physical result of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.
Because of Jesus’ death, we don’t just have confidence to wander into any part of the church building, but also to approach God at any time. Anyone is entitled to access to God through prayer, which seems normal and obvious to us. Many non-Christians still think that access to God is reserved for pastors, priests, or good Christians. Has anyone ever asked you to “send one up” for them?
Even in our sin, which we know deserves punishment and even death, we can “draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hb. 10:22). In Baptism, we have been washed clean with the promise that God will forgive our sin on account of Christ’s sacrifice.
So, not only to we now have access to all areas because of Jesus, but also full access to the Creator of heaven and earth. We have confidence in faith.
Holding firm in hope
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 (NIVUK)
We can enter God’s presence with confidence because we have faith in His promises not to punish us but forgive us. Now, we can hold firmly to the hope we have in Christ because He is faithful.
What is the hope we profess? What are we looking forward to as Christian people?
The reading from Daniel 12 spoke of God’s promise to His faithful people:
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:3 (NIVUK)
This promise, and the hope we have in it, are not just lovely thoughts or good ideas. The hope of eternal life is our anchor in increasingly challenging, dangerous, and uncertain times. Both Daniel and Jesus make it clear that the lead-up to the completion of all things will be all these things and more.
I’m sure you’re fully aware of the war and turmoil in our world at the moment. A lot of people are predicting that World War III could be sparked at any moment, if it hasn’t already begun. I know some people who just don’t watch the news anymore because it’s just all bad news. It’s not just the wars and conflicts, but the disasters, the tragedies, the suffering that people are enduring on a daily basis. You don’t have to watch the news to know about suffering. You might even be enduring suffering yourself.
Jesus says that all these things are “the beginning of birth pains” (Mk. 13:8). None of the men in this room can even pretend to fully understand what Jesus is talking about, but the point is clear: it’ll get worse before it gets better. It’ll be painful, stressful, and messy. Yet, this is exactly the way God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth.
Out of pain, suffering, and even death, God brings peace, joy, and even new life.
It is the hope of new life that keeps us on the straight and narrow. My dad has ridden motorbikes for most of his life. He used to take us kids for rides on the odd weekend. I remember one time where he explained that when you’re in a corner, it’s safer to look down the road and at the other end of the corner than right in front of you. You’ll be more balanced, and you’ll keep the ride smoother and, therefore, safer.
In the twists and turns of this life—and there will only be more of them as time goes on—Jesus calls us to keep focussed on what lies at the end of the road and keep moving in that direction. We hold firm in the hope we have through Christ.
Encouraging to love
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIVUK)
When times are tough, it’s often tempting to withdraw from everything and keep to ourselves. Particularly in a small congregation like this one, I’m sure you’ve had Sundays where you have been tempted to stay home. Maybe you knew it was going to be light-on because people are away or it’s a lay-reading service. Maybe you’d had a big week and just want some time to yourself.
In those situations, any reason we can think of to avoid showing up are self-centred. What if your presence at church that day lifted somebody else up? What if showing up was encouraging to someone else?
As Christian people, it is crucial that we meet together. I believe this goes for Sunday mornings just as much as the rest of the week. It’s good to have friends outside the church too, but only a Christian friend can encourage you to love people with the love of Jesus. Only fellow Christians can spur us on to live out our faith.
We don’t just come to church to learn something new and sing a few songs. There is a reason that morning teas and lunches go on for longer than the worship service. We gather as God’s people to encourage one another and spur one another on toward love and good deeds. If we do that on a weekly basis at a minimum, we’d go a long way to becoming the communion of saints that we are called to be a part of.
So, be confident in God’s presence with faith that He will forgive you, stand firm in the hope of eternal life amid all the strife in the world, and do not give up meeting together to encourage one another in love.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
