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It is a Fearful Thing
Hebrews 10:31
All Scripture profits us (2 Timothy 3:16-17), but there are some verses which
have a profound effect on our daily lives when we consider their eternal
implications.
One such verse is Hebrews 10:31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God." The New American Standard says "It is a terrifying thing."
Friend, meditate on the significance of v. 31 and it will cause you to change
your life if you have forsaken the Lord.
Throughout the Hebrew letter the inspired writer describes the superiority of
Christ and the gospel over the obsolete old covenant. Certainly Christ, the only
begotten Son of God, is superior to Moses and the old priesthood, His covenant
excels the Old Testament law, and His sacrifice far outshines the animal
sacrifices which could never take away sins.
Because of these facts, the Christian is urged to ". . . hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"
(Heb. 10:23). Do not let salvation slip (Heb. 2:1-4), and do not allow yourself
to drift back to Judaism and the Old Law (Heb. 8:6-13).
Remember the superiority of Christ and the new covenant, remain faithful in your
service to Him, and do not allow yourself to become entangled in the old
law-that is the theme of the Hebrew letter.
The immediate context just before Hebrews 10:31 is the tragic consequences of
apostasy from our Savior once we have tasted the fruits of salvation. If one is
baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4), has enjoyed fellowship with Him (I Jno.
1:6-7), and then rejects Jesus, what hope remains? Is there another sacrifice
awaiting the individual who has hardened his heart against the Savior? Is there
additional evidence coming which will convince him to return to God? Are there
other plans of salvation and schemes of redemption? Will his faithfulness in the
past atone for his apostasy in the present? Will God overlook his callous
rejection of the gospel at the final day?
The Hebrew writer puts it this way: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26-27).
To put it another way, the mercy of God is tempered by His justice. The two go
hand-in-hand. The Christian who falls away and hardens his heart against the
gospel, can only fear the final day of reckoning. No hope remains for him; he
can contemplate no eternal rest with the Lord. Instead, he is faced with the
awful reality of everlasting damnation. "For it is impossible for those who were
once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers
of the Holy Ghost... If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto
repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh... ." (Heb.
6:4-6).
V. 30 of Hebrews 10 reminds us that ultimate vengeance belongs to the Lord by
quoting Deuteronomy 32:35-36: "... Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."
Judgment is certain, judgment is coming, and God's justice will be served. We
are not going to be able to deceive Christ about our actions or our life: "Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap" (Galatians 6:7).
Which brings us to our verse: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the living God." This statement really summarizes all that has gone before.
Fearful in the Greek means "terrible" (Young's Analytical Concordance) and
"causing fear, terrible" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). It means exactly what
you think it means in context. The thought of facing God's judgment should
terrify the apostate!
While we do not serve God out of sheer, stark terror regarding judgment, the man
or woman who has apostatized has every right to be afraid! In fact, a healthy
dose of fear regarding eternal punishment should be one factor which motivates
the Christian to remain faithful. After all, Christ said, "And fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). Sometimes we
get that backwards and worry more about what MAN will do to us during our
pilgrimage on this earth instead of remembering that it is GOD who holds the
destiny of our souls in the palm of His hand. We become like Demas in 2 Timothy
4:10, who was faithful, but who cared more about the affairs of this present
world than he did about eternity.
Other verses which admonish the Christian to remain faithful or face the
certainty of God's punishment would include 2 Peter 2:20-22 (". . . For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after
they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment given unto them.")
Man has but two choices regarding eternity: rest in the Lord's presence or
anguish in hell's fire. According to Hebrews 10:31, only one of those destinies
awaits the those who fall.
By John N. Evans
From Expository Files 5.4; April 1998
