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 Have
you ever heard someone say, “Give ‘em Heaven, preacher!!”
It is likely you have heard the opposite— and maybe there is
too little warning and rebuke from some pulpits. Fear of
punishment is a legitimate prod, used by our Lord and His
apostles. But we may be overlooking the power of hope and
encouragement to motivate people.
Jesus
said to the woman taken in adultery, “Go, and sin no more.”
He did not condone her former life, but pointed her to a better
life. I have often been impressed by the blending of severe
warning and encouragement in the Hebrew letter. “How shall we
escape?” (2:3), followed by a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice
for us that He might bring “many sons to glory” and “succor
them that are tempted.” “Let us fear” (4 : 1), “Let us
labor” (v. 11), “Let us hold fast” (v. 14), followed by
“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain
mercy—,” (v. 16).
The
terrible charge of crucifying the Son of God afresh (6:4-8), is
followed by “Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you,”
and by the two immutable assurances (God’s oath and promise)
by which we
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may have hope. This is the pattern of the
epistle.
The
hope is not a childish “wish,” nor unconditional “pie in
the sky.” Each time it is coupled with demands for obedience,
for service, and pleas to “hold fast” your faith without
wavering. The warnings are drastic; but each seems to be
followed by some encouragement: “If any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw
back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of
the soul.” (Heb. 10:38-39). Surely there is a valuable lesson
here.
The
gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, not unto
damnation. (We are condemned because of our sin.) Those who know
truth should be emissaries of light, joy, peace. There are
people who do not recognize their lost condition, but there are
also many many people who groan under their load. They may not
understand what brought them to this state, and they may take
some convincing — but, Oh, my brother, give ‘em Heaven!!
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