THE SOLUTION TO SLUGGISHNESS

 

Sluggishness is sinfulness. We are commanded, “do not become sluggish,” (Heb. 6:12), which implies three things. First, there is a temptation that we will settle into sluggishness. None of us are immune. Second, we need not surrender to sluggishness. It is a choice and God gives us the power to overcome. Third, there is a solution to sluggishness and it is given in Hebrews 6:10-12. 

The solution to sluggishness is a consideration of OUR FUTURE, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister,” (v. 10). Satan will whisper, “Your work is in vain. All that effort and what do you have to show for it? Nobody even notices. You need to step back and sit down.”  He is a liar! God is watching and He will reward you for all the weary work and loving labor that you do in ministry to the people of God. Just because you do not receive the recognition you merit or the reward you deserve on earth, does not mean you will not. That is for eternity, so press on!

The solution to sluggishness further calls for a consecration to OUR FAITHFULNESS, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,” (v. 11). Instead of being indolent, we need to be diligent. Our body belongs to God. Paul spoke of that consecration in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Christ purchased us with His precious blood. He gave His all for us and so now demands we give our all to Him. That is service that is “reasonable.”

Then, the solution to sluggishness requires a concentration with OUR FOCUS, “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises,” (v. 12‬‬). When we are weary and worn, it is easy to become distracted. We lose sight of the eternal treasure and slip into playing with earthly trinkets. There are many who do, yet there are a few who have relentlessly focused on finishing the race well. We are to focus on the faithful and follow in their footsteps. Hebrews 11 will set forth such models for us to imitate in faith and patience. Church history is replete with such stories of those who did not succumb to sluggishness, but strove to success.

Nearly half a century ago, I copied the following poem in my Bible to spur me on lest I become sluggish. 

Don’t Quit
by
Edgar Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
And the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than 
It seems to a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up 
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit.
It's when things seem worst that
You musn't quit.

THE GENTLENESS OF GOD: A PROMISE TO CLAIM

“For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.’” (Isaiah‬ ‭66:12-13‬)

“I will…” is the assurance of God’s action. God cannot lie.  What He says He will do rest assured He will do.

There is the promise of peace as we rest in God’s arms, “I will extend peace...like a river...” (v.12a).  As a gentle river flows, creating a sound that soothes a troubled soul, thus God sends a stream of peace constant and comforting to His children. It is a lullaby to His child.

There is the promise of provision, “Then you shall feed...” (v.12b) fed as a mother feeds the babe with the breast, and carried on the hip as a mother carries her child, “On her sides shall you be carried...” (v.12c), and bounced on the knees as a mother plays with her young one, “and be dandled on her knees” (v.12d).

That is a picture of comfort, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (v.13a) and it is the promise of God!  “You shall be comforted...” (v.13b). Not all the powers of hate can diminish this promise of love!

DAYLIGHT IN THE DARK

 

Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison….  (Jeremiah 23:1-26)

Jeremiah was engulfed by the darkness of a dungeon.  It suited the Stygian shadow on his soul—and that not just because of his own suffering, but what was coming upon Jerusalem.  The lampstand inside the temple and the fires kindled on the altars were soon to be extinguished.  Judah had chosen to walk away from God’s light and so the Lord gave them what they wanted.

Yet, into the midnight of the dungeon burst a ray of hope—God had a word for His prophet.  The Psalmist declared, “The entrance of Your words gives light….”  (Ps.119:130)  God’s revelation brought that to his suffering servant.

God directed his man to look up.  He was invited to call out to the Lord, who promises to show him unexpected and unimaginable things.  Though the prophet’s body was in the pit, his spirit surely soared with encouragement!

This was not some positive-thinking, “look on the bright side of things,” which denied reality.  It was dark and getting darker for the people of God.  In His righteous anger, God would overthrow the city. 

That condition, however, would not be a permanent one.  The Lord promised to heal their backsliding.  In a future day, He would liberate them from captivity.  The Redeemer would cleanse and forgive the sin of God’s people.

The promise of future blessing was a light in the present darkness.  The Jews would someday honor the Lord’s name instead of bringing reproach.  Worship would resume in the house of God.  The desolate places will become fruitful and the flocks and herds multiply.  The promises of God will be kept. In Christ, they are yes and amen!  Jesus will see to it when He returns to reign on the throne of David and takes universal dominion.  Israel will be saved and sanctified.  The king and the priest will serve in their positions.  Nothing can halt the fulfillment of God’s intention. You may as well try to stop the world from turning on its axis as to expect God to abandon His covenant people.  He promised Abraham that his progeny would be more numerous than the sands of the sea or the stars in the sky—and so it will be!  The people were at the moment feeling the darkness of dread and despair.  That reality will be transcended by the ultimate reality—the faithfulness of God will not fail.

Friend, are you in a dark dungeon of dismal circumstances today?  Do not despair of hope, if you are a child of God.  Take the Book and open it.  You will find the light of truth breaking into the gloom.  Call out to the Lord for those great and mighty things you think are impossible.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord!  Look to the promises of God.  He cannot fail.  He will not break His oath to you.  Here is daylight in the dark!

THE PROMISE OF HOPE

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”  (Luke 1:35)

We live in an age of doubt—sick with skepticism and plagued by pessimism.  Our generation echoes the cynical question Pilate posed to Jesus, “What is truth?”  Most seem to believe the only absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth!  That is a bleak outlook on life and leads to hopelessness.  But, really, is there any hope?  Our text shouts, “Absolutely!” 

We see CERTAINTY IS GROUNDED IN GOD’S PURPOSE (Luke 1:26-29).  Despite the evolutionists claim, our world isn’t a result of a cosmic explosion and our existence isn’t the result of random processes and mutations.  There is a providential plan God is pursuing.

This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth,

And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 

For the LORD of hosts has purposed,

And who will annul it?

His hand is stretched out,

And who will turn it back?”  (Isa.14:26-27) 

God’s purpose will be fulfilled!

·        DESPITE SOCIAL DEPRAVITY GOD HAS A PLAN.  The area of Galilee and city of Nazareth were held in contempt by the Jews.  In the time of our text, the location was overrun by Gentile sinners.  Nazareth stood on a hillside overlooking a highway traversed by Roman soldiers and Greek merchants.  These men stopped at Nazareth looking for a good time.  It was a den of iniquity.  But, I want to remind you that “where sin abounds grace does much more abound.”  In these dark days in which we live, our light can shine brighter than ever!

·        DESPITE SPIRITUAL DEGENERACY GOD HAS A PEOPLE.  Gabriel wasn’t sent to the religious leaders with the announcement.  They wouldn’t have believed it.  Later, when Jesus presented Himself to them, they rejected Him.  But, God always has a people to accomplish His purposes—even if it is a poor young girl named Mary.

CERTAINTY IS GIVEN IN GOD’S PROMISES (Luke 1:30-33). We human beings have problems with promises—we break them!  But Scripture says that “God is not a man that He should lie.”  Consider these promises.

·        THE PROMISE OF CHRIST’S GRACE. Jesus means, “Jehovah is salvation.”  For centuries the promise of a Savior had been unfulfilled—that was about to change!  Jesus came to bridge the gulf between holy God and sinful man.

·        THE PROMISE OF CHRIST’S GREATNESS.  There have been many great men who have walked the stage of human history, but Jesus towers above them all, for He was more than the Son of Man; He was the Son of God!

·        THE PROMISE OF CHRIST’S GOVERNMENT.  This promise has yet to be fulfilled—but as the promises connected to Christ’s first coming were fulfilled, we may rest assured those of His second coming will be!

CERTAINTY IS GRANTED BY GOD’S POWER (Luke 1:34-38). The Bible testifies repeatedly that “with God nothing will be impossible.” 

·        THE SOURCE OF POWER is the Triune God. He is with us!

·        THE SCOPE OF POWER. Mary’s faith is strengthened by the report concerning Elizabeth.  What do you need?  Come boldly to the throne of grace!

·        THE SUBMISSION TO POWER.  Experiencing God’s power requires submission to His will.  That isn’t easy.  It cost Mary her reputation.  It almost cost her the man she loved.  It cost her the pain of watching her Son die, yet she submitted.  Have you?

AN ANCHOR FOR OUR SOUL

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil....  (Hebrews 6:19)

There have been a number of Sunday mornings, I have walked into our auditorium, burdened and weary.  Then, I have looked at a beautiful stained glass window that simply features an anchor.  When the sun shines through in the morning, the image of that anchor glows on the carpet.  I have been reminded that whatever storm I was going through I had an anchor that would hold--and hope flooded my soul, washing away the doubt and fear!  It is a visual presentation of the verbal proclamation that our text makes.  This small church of Hebrews was facing a hurricane of hateful persecution.  They needed reassurance that their anchor was secure.

There is THE SURE PROMISE (v.13-17).  CHRIST’S PROMISE IS IMMUTABLE.  The word means unchanging.  If God makes a promise, you need not doubt it!  It is immutable—unchanging and always true.  It cannot be a deception—a deliberate lie for God is wholly true.  It cannot be a delusion—thinking that He can do something that He cannot—for He is all powerful.  When I go into court and promise to tell the truth, I swear on a Bible—pledging to and dependent on a Higher Power to make my testimony sure.  God cannot do more than to make a promise based on His own nature for there is no higher authority (v.16).  The promise made to Abraham would be a long time in its fulfillment—a decade and a half later.    "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (v.15)  His profession was matched by his performance and proven in his persistence—and thus, Abraham received the promise—and that is what we must do also (6:1-12).

Further, we have THE SECURE HOPE (v.18-19).  CHRIST’S PRESERVATION IS IMMOVABLE.  I hope that you would find it improbable that I would lie—but being a frail human, you know I could.  It might be that I didn't intend to deceive, but was mistaken.  With God neither falsehood or failure is possible!  If He lied, He would cease to be God and instead become the Devil of hell.  The author doesn't write so we throw up our hands and give up, but hitch up our britches and go on! “Strong consolation” means "calling alongside"--a loud voice urging us on!  Picture a terrified sailor in storm, hearing the captain's voice above the storm or a tired runner cheered by the crowd as he heads for the finish line.   The term “fled for refuge" suggests the Old Testament cities of refuge where a man could flee if he had accidentally killed someone.  Jesus is our refuge!

Then, there is THE STEADFAST WORK (v.20).  CHRIST’S PRIESTHOOD IS IMMORTAL.  We are safe as long as Jesus intercedes—which means we are safe forever!  He is the forerunner who has penetrated beyond the veil, into the Holy of Holies in heaven, opening the way for us.

Are you anchored in Christ?  Are you trusting Him to save you?  That is the only hope we have as sinners—but it is a steadfast hope if we will place our faith in Him and give our life to Him.  If you are drifting, put down the anchor!  If you are doubting, look up to Jesus!

TREASURE OR TRASH?

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”  (Gen.15:1)

As a young boy, one of my favorite things to do was to read comic books.  Inside, there would be a few pages of advertisements offering the neatest things imaginable—onion gum, soap that turned your skin black, stink bombs—stuff like that.  The ads made the products sound so good.  Adjectives like “life size,” “gigantic,” “sure to frighten,” and so forth tantalized my imagination.  When I wanted to order some of these things, my father would say, “No!  It’s just junk!”  What did he know?  I saw it in a book!  Finally, I pestered him until he let me send in my hard-earned money from mowing lawns, and I waited with great expectation, until the mail carrier finally brought the package.  Eagerly, I tore into the box, and do you know what it was?  A bunch of junk!  What I thought would be treasure turned out to be trash, and the people who sold this stuff were laughing all the way to the bank. 

That is much like the Devil does when we won’t believe our Heavenly Father and seek earth’s trash rather than eternity’s treasure.  Satan knows how to advertise his pleasures—making them sparkle and shine.  God says, “It’s junk!  You may have fun playing with it awhile, but you’ll quickly tire of it.  If you will just be patient and see the reward I have for you!  Trust me!”

Abraham—or Abram as he was called at the time—was a man who decided not to accept the world’s cheap substitutes, but to look to God for real reward.  His nephew Lot had been sucked into Sodom—that had already cost him much (read Gen.14), and he would soon pay a horrible price.  Abraham refused the wealth offered from the wicked King of Sodom (Gen.14:22-23).  He rejected the treasures tarnished by the hands of a vile ruler.  All he had in his pocket was God’s IOU—but that was enough for him.  As the story unfolds in Genesis 15, God promises to come through and not only bestow a reward, but BE his reward!  Ultimately, only God can satisfy the deepest need of our heart.  We were designed with a God-shaped hole in our soul that only He can fill.  Everything else leaves us empty and longing for more.

Make no mistake—it costs to serve God.  Abraham had given up his home and moved out of his comfort zone to travel into an unknown future in response to God’s call.  He had yielded his rights in a property dispute with Lot.  Yes, it costs to serve God, but it costs so much more not to do so, and it is actually a faith investment that will pay rich dividends later.  Abraham became heir of the righteousness required to gain Heaven.  It is the righteousness of faith—and that is the only way to obtain it.  All that God is and has is available by placing your trust in Christ.  In contrast, think of how Jesus described Hell as Gehenna—the garbage dump outside the Holy City of Jerusalem.  So, the question is—do you want treasure or trash?