One of my colleagues is running the London Marathon today with his daughter. He has told me of how in the training runs he has had to run much more slower in order to help his daughter keep pace and complete the training. He will do the same today. They will cross the line together.
We need to take care of our own souls but that of others too. Church is not a place to only worship but it is a community that learn to care for one another in this race.
The author is concerned that these Christians may either drift from their commitment to Christ or abandon their faith altogether. Here are some examples of what has already been said: 2:1-4 “We must pay more careful attention …” 4:12-13 “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” 6:4-8 ” It is impossible … if they fall away … they are crucifying the Son of God all over again” 10:26-31 “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
For far less reasons people have abandoned their church communities and walked also from God. If their prayers are not answered the way they wanted they have given up. But this persecution was real and painful and there was more to come. It begged the question, was becoming a Christian a mistake? Had they done the right thing? If they hadn’t made their commitment to Christ then they would not be facing this suffering.
“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.” (Hebrews 12 v 15-17)
There is no indication in the story of Esau that he was sexually immoral, so perhaps (as with the prophets) the author/pastor is pointing to the idolatry of Esau. He disregarded the benefits that were his for a temporary relief to his hunger, a bowl of stew.
I know a man who God called to plant churches. Today he won’t attend any church. He preferred a bowl of stew.
Let’s pay attention to ourselves and each other.
Here are some things to look out for:
- Grace not performance. Our best holiness will still need to be surrendered to His pure grace. Watch out for those who seem to be going through the motions.
- Godliness not bitterness. Is there a long-standing resentment, a hardening of the heart which refuses to be reconciled? It is to nurse the anger and to take care of it, thinking over and over on the offending conversation and the injury that it caused you.
- Guidance not impulsiveness. Are people asking for advice? Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew; Aaron created a golden calf for worship to please people; Samson found Delilah and lost his eyesight; Eli kept silent with his sinful sons and lost God’s presence; Moses struck the rock twice and missed the Promised Land. None of these people needed to have ended how they did. If only they had considered before they acted.
With stark warning the community are told that just like Esau who came to his senses and with tears wanted to turn the clock back he couldn’t. He reached the point of no return. If these Christians returned to Judaism it would be the same. They would forfeit the blessings God had for them.
It is the Esau warning not to let go and not to let others do so also.
Missions Paul 