How Then Can We Live…in such a time as this

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.  

Hebrews 1:1

I shudder in disbelief at the headline news these days, ladies. What in the world has happened to faith, to truth, to living to please God! How do our children and grandchildren stay strong in the present academia? How do we maintain moral integrity in the workplace? How do we not compromise our values? Oh, for the good old days! 

And then I read in Ezekiel 33:10: “‘Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?’” Or I study a book like Hebrews and see the passion with which the author explains to the believers of that day, that Jesus is the far better way. Things haven’t changed much. “How then can we live?” is a question for the ages. 

Amazing how quickly one’s theology can become skewed. Barely 30 years had passed since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and these baby Christians were wanting to return to the ritual of their Jewish roots. Take circumcision for example: God had decreed it; shouldn’t they obey God? Even Peter and Barnabas were afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group and refused to eat with Gentile believers (Galatians 2:12-13). 

Yes, God did speak to their forefathers through the prophets and spelled out the ways they were to live and worship Him. But that was then. It now was clear that the Law could not reconcile them to Him. Only Jesus could: After he had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (1:3). After all, He was the Son: the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (1:3)! 

Exactly! That’s what those who had seen Jesus said—the Son of God! But now these new teachers called Jesus “by the name, ‘angel’...a spiritual being carrying out a few errands for God.” (Holman NT Commentary online). They did not get it. Jesus was not merely a messenger or errand boy; Jesus was as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs (1:4).

We do it too. We don’t get it that it is Christ plus nothing. We don’t treat Jesus as the Son He is. Our worship is shallow. We make it all about our offerings, our good deeds, our rituals. We exchange the truth of God’s word for our truths. Heaven help us!  

Nancy P