Read: Hebrews 5:11-6:20
Nat King Cole used to sing about the “lazy, hazy days of summer.” I’m not one to remember the words of songs, but I do recall that Mr. Cole encouraged us to enjoy those days when the sun was hot and friends were near. “Lazy, hazy days” were viewed as a good thing. Maybe that’s why we embrace the idea that it’s ok to sit back and relax. We tell ourselves to take some time off from work, from daily routines, and from the hectic pace of life. And while we are at it, we might as well take some time away from the faith. Jesus can run the kingdom just fine without us.
Of course He can! But that’s not the point. Scripture reminds us that the resurrected Savior is the King and we have been rescued out of darkness and transferred into HIS…Kingdom (COL 1:13-14)! However, the Kingdom (for now) is in a kind of exile here on planet earth. As a result, life can be overwhelming and confusing. When personal problems enter our lives, we think the way out is to take time off from the faith.
We don’t want to talk about Jesus or serve Jesus. We don’t want the responsibilities of being Kingdom citizens. We just want to be left alone. But being left alone can be spiritually dangerous!
Consider Hebrews 5:11-6:20, and read it several times. I know that the text for the week includes one of those much-discussed “warning passages” of Scripture. Bible students have spent countless hours debating whether a Christian can lose their salvation or not. I personally believe that these discussions miss the primary point of the text. Read it for yourself and then notice its structure:
Hebrews 5:11-14 returns to a common problem. In this passage the writer refers to it as “laziness” (5:11 & 6:12). He is talking about an attitude where life has become so overwhelming that we embrace “spiritual apathy” instead of “moment-by-moment” faithfulness to King Jesus.
Then in Hebrews 6:1-20 the writer makes an appeal to persevere in the faith no matter what our circumstances might be. This is the solution to the problem introduced in Hebrews 5:11-14. His primary exhortation is captured in the words “let us go on to maturity.”
In fact, I am struck by three important facts in the text.
- We are to build on (not abandon) the “elementary” principles of the faith we have received.
- This exhortation to “go on to maturity” is to be a continuous activity in our lives as inferred by the Greek present subjunctive.
- "Maturity” is accompanied by the definite article. That is, “maturity” is a destiny. It is a reference to our ultimate goal of becoming like Jesus Christ and being with the Savior.
Yes, we can and do become spiritually lazy at times. We are prone to give up and even go back to our old ways of living and thinking. Yet the Spirit of God through the Word of God calls us to persevere. How do we do that? The text seems to be teaching that instead of becoming spiritually lazy, we are to refocus on the future rather than the present.
I know what you are thinking. “How do we refocus?” Assuming that the writer is speaking to Christians, we are to build on biblical truth we have already received and refocus on the holiness of God (6:4-8). God does not take spiritual apathy lightly. He disciplines the believer and will eternally judge the unbeliever (who might think they have eternal salvation but do not). In addition, we move on toward maturity when we refocus on the rewards of God (6:9-12). He sees our work that is done in Jesus’ Name and will honor what we do for the Savior. And finally, we move on toward maturity when we refocus on the faithfulness of God (6:13-20). He has proven that He has kept His promises to Abraham and will do the same for us. In addition, Jesus has entered the sanctuary of heaven, where He intercedes for us every hour of every day.
You might be tempted in your life right now to lounge in the lazy, hazy experiences of spiritual apathy. It might even seem like the wise and safe thing to do. But it is not the will of God for any of us who call ourselves Christ-followers. Instead of settling for spiritual apathy, refocus on your future with Jesus. It is real. It is certain. So persevere.
