We Must Remember - Hebrews 10:32–39
Do you remember what you did on March 10, 2014? How about October 22, 2004, or January 21, 1989? And by the way, what days of the week were each of those? You may happen to remember one of those, but who can say that they remember every single day?
Well, apparently there are some people in the world who can. They have what doctors call “Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory.” Imagine being given any date and being able to recall the day of the week on which that date fell, and being able to remember the specific things you did on that day.
Interestingly, people who have this ability describe it as more of a curse than a blessing. They find that the memories interrupt their days and interfere with their lives. I suppose it’s good to be able to forget some things.
We all forget, not only memories or facts we once knew, but also things we believe to be true and most valuable to us. Not that we forget them altogether, but they escape our minds. Do you ever speak or behave in a way that seems to demonstrate that you’ve forgotten what truly matters in your life or the beliefs that are most dear to you? Of course you have.
Life is hard, with many distractions, disappointments, and fears, and we forget things that are necessary for trusting God and obedience to Him. But the gospel reminds us. The gospel reminds us that even though we forget, God remembered. He remembered the covenant He made with Abraham, with all the promises
He fulfilled through Jesus Christ. God remembered His promise that He would be our God and we would be His people. God remembered to make a way for us, to not leave us dead in our sins, to give us hope and a future in Jesus.
But for us to continue with Him, for us to heed the warning of Hebrews 10 which we studied last week, then there are certain things we must remember. Throughout the Scriptures, we see God urging His people to remember things.
But what kind of things? Well, you can see two statements printed on page 6 in the WG. These verses today (which conclude Hebrews 10) teach us that for believers to trust God and walk with Him, we must remember that: 1. With help from our God we have already endured and overcome many things, and 2. By faith in Jesus Christ we will press on because He has overcome all things.
In John 16 in the NT, Jesus gave his disciples two guarantees. He said, “In the world you will have [afflictions]. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” These are true for us as well, so we must remember. Let’s look at these verses now.
The verses just before these contain a strong warning not to turn away from Jesus and His covenant community, the church. There is no salvation apart from Jesus, and His church is an essential part of His plans and purpose. The verses were clear that in the end, there will be no mercy for the enemies of God. In fact, there is nothing worse than finding yourself opposed to God, either now or when your earthly life is over.
That is the message of this pastor, this preacher, who wrote the book of Hebrews. He delivered this to a church. The tone is urgent and serious. But the tone changes somewhat in verse 32. Notice it again, he says, “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.” After these folks first responded to the gospel and became members of the body of Christ, they were persecuted.
They were mostly former Jews (now Christians), and some were leaving the church and rejecting Jesus; others were on the fence. Only God could know who among them was truly born again and who was not. So a warning was necessary, but notice that this pastor has great empathy and respect for these people. He had seen the Lord at work in their lives.
He saw what they had been through. Look at the kinds of things they endured, verse 33: “sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.” They were insulted and mistreated for following Jesus, but they obeyed God and continued with Him. They even showed concern for others, verse [34] For you had compassion on those in prison. Some of the believers had been put in jail for their faith.
Look at the rest of that verse, “and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property.” These folks were robbed, perhaps extorted by people who threatened to turn them into the authorities for their faith in Jesus. Why would people endure such things and not abandon the Christian faith? Look at the rest of verse 34, “you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” The pastor recognized that these believers were determined not to turn away from Jesus or the body of Christ because they believed that some greater wealth was theirs, that they possessed something of more importance than earthly stuff.
He’s doing something that a good pastor should do: reminding the people of what is true. As these people suffer and hurt, he urges them to remember that with help from their God they have already endured and overcome many things. The same is true for the people of God today.
Do you know about the Barkley Marathons? It’s a 100-mile race foot race through the mountains of eastern Tennessee that first began in 1986. It’s extremely difficult. People come from all over the world to attempt the race, and only 15 people have ever completed it. In fact, this year, no one finished. It’s a brutal journey over difficult terrain in tough conditions. One runner who attempted the race simply said, “Everyone comes back pretty broken.”
In a similar way, all of us are broken by the difficulties of life. What about your sufferings, either in the past or the present? Has the weight of life with its trials and pain been wearing you down? Don’t forget all that God has carried you through already. You know the old song? “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.”
Earlier in worship, we proclaimed what we believe regarding the decrees of God. That catechism goes on to summarize the Bible’s teaching by saying that God carries out His decrees through His works of creation and providence. It says that God's works of providence are His most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.
The Scriptures teach that nothing happens outside of God’s control. God has been involved at every step in your life. Right now, there may be some seemingly easier path that is looking more and more appealing to you, a path that you think can travel on your own, apart from Jesus, apart from His church?
But think about what God has done for you, what He has carried you through, how He was working and leading you even when you didn’t ask for it or recognize it. Listen, believers: God has a plan and He will make a way. We should not back down; we must bear down. With God’s help, we have overcome so much. And by faith in Jesus, we will press on because Jesus has overcome everything.
I say we “will” press on because in John 10, Jesus says this about his people: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Those who are born again did not secure salvation and cannot lose it. Anyone who ultimately turns away from Jesus was clearly never truly saved in the first place.
There is plenty of evidence in the Scriptures to back this up. The writer of Hebrews still knows that believers and non-believers are mixed together in the congregation, but now he speaks to those who are saved, verse 35, “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. [36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Life will be difficult, but there is no way other than Jesus. Those who are in the Father’s hand will recognize this.
John also describes a time when many followers of Jesus turned away from him. When Jesus asked the twelve if they would leave also, Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Do you know the old phrase, “resting on your laurels?” It refers to being complacent in the present because of what you accomplished in the past. The phrase seems to trace back to the ancient Olympic games, when the winners would receive a laurel wreath to wear on their heads like a crown. The wreath was a sign of past success, but it guaranteed nothing you in the present.
The writer of Hebrews is telling his church that yes, they have come a long way with the Lord, but the journey isn’t over yet. He compels them to look back on what they had already been through and overcome; but also, he urges them to look forward, to keep pressing on by faith.
He quotes some OT prophets, mainly Habakkuk. Who was Habakkuk? Well, he lived about 600 years before Christ. His prophecy is unique in that he doesn’t directly address the people of God. Instead, he wrestles with his own faith, with his own questions and doubts, even with his own complaints about the world. He complains to God quite a bit.
But his message is important. One commentator points out that the dominant theme of Habakkuk is this: “The people of God must have faith that looks outside of them to another.” Look at the quote from Habakkuk in verse 37, “For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; [38] but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” As difficult as the times were, Habakkuk came to true and godly conclusions about his circumstances.
Throughout the ages, the people of God have had to endure trials and walk by faith. And always, God’s people have looked for the working of God in their lives and waited on the coming of the Savior. Even now, we wait for His second coming.
But notice the language of verse 39, he says “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” He says, “we are not.” This is connected to a Biblical doctrine often called the perseverance of the saints or the preservation of the saints. The last part of this verse could also be translated “we are of those...who believe and are saved.” The writer of Hebrews even includes himself.
Pain and suffering tempt all of us to retreat rather than continuing to worship God and join Him on mission. But that retreat - that shrinking back - can be a sign of something terrible. Many people experience terrible things and decide to leave the church and abandon the faith.
That very thing is addressed here and back in Hebrews 6. Some people will suffer, then blame God, be angry, and reject Jesus and His church. We must remember that though things are difficult and at times seemingly unbearable, by faith in Jesus Christ we can and we most certainly will press on. Why? Because Jesus has overcome all things. Recall, Jesus told His disciples, “In the world you will have [trouble]. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” In other words, have courage, be confident, because Jesus reigns.
Whatever your trouble, Christ has overcome it, and one day, it will cease. One day, you will be fully restored, you will be made whole again, you will be transformed, and you will have eternal rest, everlasting peace and comfort. This is the promise for those who repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we go to the table this morning, we must remember that Jesus overcame all things through perfect obedience even through the worst suffering. All of us, as we struggle, we also sin. But Jesus struggled in our place, yet without sin. Therefore He is a worthy Savior.
God remembered his covenant, but one promise of that covenant is that He remembers our sins no more. And with this security in the love of God, which is undeserved and is ours by grace, we will endure. We will endure with God, and we will endure alongside each other.
Remember, this message in Hebrews went out to the church. The writer told them not to stop meeting together, not to drift from one another into isolation. It’s natural to think that we don’t need others, we just need Jesus. It’s true that only Jesus can save you, but He has saved all these other folks as well.
And he has given us to one another. Even though we don’t all have the same experiences, the exact same history or struggles. But we are called to help each other remember the gospel. The friend you need is not the one who has been through all the same things you’ve been through. The friend you need is the one who faithfully tells you the gospel.
Do you know the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you understand how it changes everything? Have you responded to Jesus, crying out to Him, admitting that you are a sinner and placing your trust in Him alone? Have you forgotten the gospel? Remember Jesus, come to Him, and live!
Let’s bow together in prayer.