Today's Passage - Hebrews 12:18-24

Hebrews 12:18-24   You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."  The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.   There's a clear contrast of scenes here.  The author said that we have "not come to a mountain that can be touched," which is Mount Sinai, where God issued the law, and where criminals were tried and convicted.  When a sinner came before the law, it would have been a frightening experience.  That's why Israelites back then did not want God to speak to them, but rather they just wanted Moses to listen to God's voice on their behalf.  Today, when we come before God, we no longer need to go to Mount Sinai, but instead we can go to the mountain which cannot be touched, which is Mount Zion.  Mount Zion is the mountain filled with grace, because in Christ we will no longer be convicted of sin, but we may be together with all the saints and angels.  Most importantly, we can meet the Lord face to face, and He's happy to speak to us, which is quite different from before.  Back in the Old Testament time, our relationship with God is indirect and filled with fear; in the New Testament time, however, our relationship with God is direct and intimate.  Do you understand the grace of the New Testament time?  You could not stand before the law back in the Old Testament time, and you'd be filled with fear and trembling; but now, the authority of sin and fear has been completely broken in Jesus Christ, and you can come before Father God without any fear.   Many Christians, however, seem to be living in the Old Testament time.  When we are weak, we ask pastor to pray for us; when we are sick, we ask pastor to lay hand on us; when we want to spread the gospel, we ask pastor to preach on our behalf.  We don't come before God directly to seek Him and listen to His voice.  We still depend on pastor or other people to come before God.  May the Lord have mercy on us, help us to see that today we're not coming to Mount Sinai which we can touch, but rather the Mount Zion that we cannot touch.  God is happy to talk to you and reveal Himself to you.  As long as you open your heart, God will perform some wonderful work in your life, so are you willing to do it?   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you because you are happy to be close to us and talk to us.  May the Lord open our hearts, and we welcome you to work and move in our lives every day.  We don't want to live in the Old Testament time anymore, but we want to be in the New Testament time and we want to enter closer relationship with you in Christ.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!      Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!