Friday 21 March 2014

Hebrews 12:14-29

"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”"
Exodus 20:18,19 (NIV)

I wonder if you have ever trembled in fear. I have been afraid before and my hands tremble, but I never been so afraid that my body trembled. Our dog trembles when he is afraid, and I have heard of little children trembling, but I have never seen an adult tremble in fear. 

The entire nation of Israel trembled with fear because God was coming to earth! There was thunder and lightning, there was smoke, there was a voice speaking words they could not bear and there was a trumpet sounding louder and louder and louder. This trumpet was not a trumpet of celebration, nor was it a trumpet of battle, rather it was a trumpet that heralded the coming of the LORD to the earth, to take possession of His people. 

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that we did not have the Israelites' experience, for when we met the LORD we came to a gentle Saviour; we came to Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant. We came to angels, and righteous spirits. We came to God through the Son whom He loves, and through the blood that was shed for our sins. What a blessed position we have in Christ, and what a glorious gospel to proclaim! Yet there will be a Day; soon there will be a Day when the world hears a trumpet that proclaims the coming of the Lord. He will come for His people, and He will come to destroy His enemies. He will come as a conquering King and as a consuming fire. 

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!


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