Our God Is a Consuming Fire

Hebrews 12

Let Us Throw off Everything (12:1-3)

The aim of the author of Hebrews is to encourage us, but not necessarily to make us feel good. It is his wish to motivate us to rely completely and unwaveringly on our Lord and Savior. His method is both to lift our minds to great height, and also to force us to look down from that height and consider how great the fall. In this transitional passage, the author connects the host of characters mentioned in the previous chapter, and the faith to which they attest, to the new focus of his encouragement: we should press on at all cost toward our only gain.

He introduces this idea gently, suggesting that we “throw off” everything that would hold us back. This verb (apotithēmi) is the same word Paul uses when he beautifully encourages us to “put aside” our dark deeds and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). But we should beware, for though the author begins this instruction gently, he will make clear that he intends it with the same seriousness that Jesus expresses when he advises us even to tear out our eyes, if necessary, and stumble blindly into the Kingdom, rather than stare with full sight into the fires of hell (Mark 9:43-48).

You Have not yet Resisted (12:4-13)

Though we know little about the author or the audience of Hebrews, it seems that he is one writing to early Christians who were just beginning to suffer persecution, and to realize that Christ would not return as soon as they had expected. Here, the author offers two points of “encouragement”. First, he tells them that whatever they may have suffered, they have at least not shed their blood. This statement, if considered dispassionately, is not surprising, as the author has given careful argument that our access to God has been secured by the shedding of blood. But, where our own blood is concerned, it is difficult to maintain perspective, and the idea that we have not yet reached the point certainly seems to suggest that we may in the future.

The author continues with the strange encouragement from Proverbs saying our punishment is a sign of love and that it is only for our own good. The parents among us should carefully consider how unsatisfying this encouragement can be. But in this observation is the crucial point: we are not speaking of the discipline of even the most loving of earthly parents, but the discipline of the Lord, who is not only infinitely more just, but infinitely more generous (Luke 11:9-13).

I find this passage challenging in what is perhaps a more disturbing way. The author’s audience lived in a time when they began to fear that the return of the Lord would not be imminent. I live in a time when that return is considered only occasionally and then remotely. They lived in a society of open persecution. I live in a society that values comfort over almost all other concerns.

There are times when I am confronted with my pampered existence and I hear the author saying directly to me “You have not yet resisted!”

Live in Peace and Be Holy (12:14-17)

It seems an odd conjunction that we should live in peace with all men and be holy. After all, to be holy is to be set apart, rather than to be with. Further, we never feel more holy than when, far from being at peace, we do battle with our fellow men, swinging our holiness like a club. This is the easy route to holiness: to be set apart by our own standards. The more difficult route is to be holy by being in the world, but not of the world (John 17:16-18).

Right up against this notion the author gives us the story of Esau, who was very much of the world and of the moment. Esau was concerned for his belly and missed out on his blessing. The author warns us that the appetites of this world can distract us from the consummation of the next.

You Have Come to God (12:18-24)

To remind us that the things of this world are but a copy and shadow of the true things (10:1) the author begins to speak of two mountains and the blood of two men. At Mount Sinai, the presence of God was manifest so powerfully that even to touch the mountain meant death. The people were so afraid of that presence that they thrust Moses and Aaron between themselves and God (Exodus 20:18-19).

The blood of Abel called out the guilt of Cain (Genesis 4:8-10) but the blood of Jesus cleanses us of all guilt (9:14) and by that blood we have access to the true Tabernacle (8:1-2) to Mount Zion, the true mountain, where the presence of God means eternal life.

With Reverence and Awe (12:25-29)

This world will yield to the true world. The process will be terrible at times, but the terror, Jesus says, is a sign of our redemption (Luke 21:16-28). Still, the author does not suggest the stoic acceptance that whatever befalls us is the will of God, but the assurance that whatever befalls us, the will of God is something better, better for us and all of creation (11:39-40).

Though the path from this world to the next may be difficult, the author makes a final plea that we not reject this new covenant, for the salvation it offers is the only salvation that will be offered (2:3). In this, our God is a jealous God, a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:23-24). But our God intends good for us, to bring out the good in us.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  (Mal 3:2-3)