“…and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” Hebrews 2:2b-3a ESV

If we neglect what Christ accomplished on the cross, what other means of salvation do we have to turn to?  Jehovah, the God of the Bible, has shown Himself throughout history and the Bible to be the one true God.  That cuts out all other religions, gods, philosophies, or belief systems one may look toward to satisfy the longing of the soul to receive forgiveness and rest.  Since this book was written most likely by a Hebrew to Hebrews, the focus of this passage is dealing with the supremacy & sufficiency of Christ over the Law or some outward display of morality for salvation.

Deut. 17:2-7 and Num. 15:30-31 among countless others display the overwhelming detail and consequence of the Law.  The Law or moralism brings with it a feeling of hopelessness and despair.  We begin to feel as if we can never be or do good enough… But that was the point of the Law!  That was God’s way of revealing His standards to us, knowing we would fail the moment we were born, revealing to us, as well, how utterly hopeless and helpless we truly are.  We are sinners by birth and by choice.  We can’t work our way to God.  We need mercy!  We need forgiveness!  We need Christ!

If no other religious or philosophical system can deliver us, and we can’t be good/moral/ethical/strict enough… ever… “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”  Where have you placed your faith?  Turn to Christ.  Receive grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  Find rest for your soul!

I never tire of flying.  Now the wait and airport security lines, etc. can be a pain, but that thrill of accelerating so quickly down the runway that you’re forced back in your seat, the sinking feeling you get in your stomach when the tail of the plane leaves the ground, and the initial climb when the plane banks a hard turn to one side are just simply unbeatable!  It’s here, climbing to 30,000 ft., passing through multiple cloud layers, watching civilization below grow smaller by the second that you realize how tiny we really are, no matter how big our ego may be.  I know God hates pride, but I have to wonder if he chuckles a bit some times when we celebrate what we consider a large accomplishment such as flying.

I also love flying because it allows me several hours that I really can do nothing else but be alone with my thoughts and Jesus.  It’s awesome and scary all at the same time because I have some great time for prayer and introspection.  It’s there that I am continually reminded of how rotten and utterly selfish I am deep down.  That’s why the cross of Christ keeps blowing my mind!!  I’m terrible, yet Christ chose to take my sins upon Himself and bear my punishment?  He loved me before I cared anything about Him and actually worked against Him the Bible says.  To me why God loves us so much will always be a mystery.  I’m just so thankful that He does and that He is continually working in me and sanctifying me to be more like Himself.  I’m also thankful that Christ is my reward here on Earth as well as in Heaven.  That’s right, Heaven isn’t our reward…  It’s just the magnificent place we get to enjoy Christ for eternity.

Jesus is the object of my affection and worship.  Even if I try to clean myself up and be a “good”, “moral” person, without Christ, I am an Idolator because I looked inside of me and my will to “clean me up”, making myself or other people’s thoughts about morality my god.  I’m so glad I have the Word and Spirit of Jesus Christ as my God and my guide.  I can do nothing apart from Him.  The Bible says that for the Believer, it is His Spirit in us that gives us the will and the strength to act in righteousness.

I challenge you to introspection.  Just you, your gut-level honest thoughts (the real you), and Jesus!  If you don’t come out of it with praise in our heart for His never-failing, never-ending Grace… you might want to look again!  (Rom 3:23).  Praise God for His compassion and mercy for pitiful people that He changes and uses for His Glory!  Jesus I belong to You!  You do with me what pleases You!

The reason I love my life so much is the fact that no matter how stressful “life” gets, or how stressful I make it…  I still have a gracious, loving God who forgives, guides, & corrects me when I need it.  I still have Heaven as my hope because of Christ.  I still have a beautiful wife (whom God blessed me with) that loves me despite all my short-comings.  I still have 2 great kids that always do something to make each day great.  I have a GREAT life!

I have to give all the credit to Jesus Christ because without Him turning my life around… I would have NONE of this!  In fact, I probably would’ve been dead by now!

The love of God has a great way of putting things into right perspective for us.  No matter how far we choose to walk away from Him at times, He’s always there, waiting for us to turn around, repent and throw our arms up in surrender so He can pick us up, clean us up and place us back on the straight, narrow, perfect  path that He has graciously planned out for us in His omniscience.  There is NONE like our God! I’m so thankful He doesn’t treat me the way I deserve to be treated.

I don’t see how people make it through this thing called “life” without Christ!