City On A Hill

The trail for the hike used to be well marked, but at night even with the markings it is easy to lose track of the path. This year, however, the trail that had begun to feel familiar was different. The retreat is held at the Manzano Mountain Retreat, and the Manzano Mountains fire last spring literally was stopped at one of the outer cabins. With most of the trees and vegetation burned away, there is nothing to hold the water when the rains come. The trail has been burned out and then washed out. So when leading the night hike, I lost my way at one point both on the way out and the way back in. When you’re leading 50+ kids and several adults, this can be pretty embarrassing. Thankfully I was able to figure out the correct path and got everyone out and back without too much trouble or delay. But it’s very unnerving not knowing exactly where you are and knowing that you can get off track at any point. With our faith planted firmly in the Lord, we have His Word to guide us through the foggiest, most difficult of times, but we must remain steadfast and close to Him to be able to understand what He’s telling us.

Though I’ve discussed the passages in Luke the last couple of posts, tonight I will take a crack at the passage in Hebrews. Hebrews can be difficult to comprehend for someone with my limited intellect but I really enjoy reading it and seeing what the Lord has to reveal to me. I’m actually going back one night for the scripture reference. My Ryrie study Bible outline of Hebrews refers to Chapter 3 vv. 7 – 19 as the “catastrophe of unbelief.” I like that phrase, because I think unbelief can lead to catastrophe, and I also believe that unfaithfulness on the part of a believer can lead to catastrophe. As believers, avoiding catastrophe (though the Lord does not promise us perfect lives) comes down to the strength of our relation to the Lord. As I like to tell the youth, developing relationships with people takes time, energy, purposefulness, and commitment. It’s no different with developing one’s relationship with the Lord.

The key passage for me tonight is Hebrews 3:12-14: (12) “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. (13) But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.”

I love that last verse in particular, that as believers we are partakers of Christ. What a blessing that is, but how can we fully partake if we don’t invest in the relationship? I don’t believe there is any middle ground in our relationship with the Lord. Either one is moving forward or falling back. I also believe that the nature of our relationship with the Lord is a choice we make; therefore if we are moving away in our relationship with the Lord we are doing so by deliberate choice. Falling away from the living God, as the author of Hebrews writes, serves no purpose in our lives as servants of His. The consequences of unbelief can be catastrophic, and why would anyone intentionally choose that?

The direction of our lives can be like the burned and washed out trails I encountered on those nature hikes. It can be hard to know which way to go. Our hope and source of direction is the word of God. As noted before, we must remain close to Him to be able to listen to Him for guidance. But even if we’re in a period where we’re not as close to Him, we can take comfort in knowing He’s always there. He’s an unchanging, everlasting anchor in a world where fads and idols come and go. I don’t know what a non-believer uses for guidance when he can depend on nothing to stay the same. With a constantly moving guide point, one is unable to fix their position. How can one know where they are going when they don’t know where they are? Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” What a comfort we can take in that promise. I encourage you to invest all you can in your relationship with Him.

Thanks for reading. Again, please let me know what you think.

In Him,
Ron