November 24

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. — Heb 10:39 BSB

The Scriptures give us certain signs not only to test but also to comfort God’s people. However, to keep them watchful and aware of the danger of being deceived, the Holy Spirit has provided passages like those found in Hebrews chapters six and ten. These serve as warnings, much like a lighthouse near the entrance of a harbor. Naturally, a shoal or sandbank often lies close to a port’s entrance, and the mariner must be cautious to avoid it. How is he protected? A lighthouse is placed on or near the danger to guide him safely. I view the sixth and tenth chapters of Hebrews as two such lighthouses, warning believers of spiritual dangers. Their message is: “Beware of this shoal! Watch out for that sandbank! There can be gifts without grace, profession without possession, form without power, and a name to live while the soul is dead.”

The shoal often lies right at the harbor’s entrance. As the ship heads toward safety, the sandbank lies directly in its path. But when the harbor is near, the lighthouse not only warns of the danger but also points to the safe way in. Spiritually, these two chapters have shown many of God’s people the hidden dangers on their journey. Some, after seeing these warnings, have come close enough to observe the wrecked ships—those vessels that sailed from the same port but were destroyed on the rocks, with their cargo lost and debris floating in the water.

These wrecked vessels ignored the lighthouse. They were reckless, careless, even confident they were bound for heaven, and so they pressed on without heed—until the ship struck the shoal, and every soul on board was lost. Such sobering warnings are meant to pierce deeply, even painfully, into the conscience. The deliberate ambiguity of these passages seems designed to provoke a response, encouraging God’s people to seek a deeper assurance and to cry out earnestly to avoid being deceived.

But it’s not the struggling, despondent child of God who needs to fear these warnings. The very fact that they are troubled by these passages shows their conscience is tender and sensitive to God’s fear. They are like “the earth that drinks in the rain often falling on it and produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed, and receives the blessing of God.” They are not like “the land that produces thorns and thistles, which is worthless and is in danger of being cursed, and in the end will be burned.” These fears, which lead many of God’s people to cry out for guidance and truth, are themselves a sign of grace at work within. They confirm that God, who began a good work in them, will carry it on until the day of Jesus Christ, bringing them to the eternal enjoyment of God, where they will see him face to face.