Memories

When we were kids, we used to play a game called Gossip. Someone would whisper a story to the first person in line that would pass the story on to the next person, and so on down the line until the last person had heard it. When the last person recounted their version of the tale to the group, it rarely bore much resemblance to the one that had started in the beginning.

Hebrews 10 (NIV)
 ³²Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. ³³Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

 ³⁵So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

The writer of Hebrews is exhorting his readers to hang on to the memories of their first encounter with the saving power of Jesus. He wants them to keep the joy and the desire to share this Good News that comes with salvation. “Remember how you remained faithful.” When one first allows the Savior into their hearts, there is nothing more important than nurturing that relationship. There is a sense of urgency about their walk with the Lord. These are things that we should strive to keep in our minds as we go about our day-to-day lives.

However, like the players in a game of Gossip, we tend to remember parts of what we experience. The writer reminds his audience that there were bad times – times of suffering and ridicule. Even in those situations, the new believer tries to stay the course and trust in the power of Jesus to get them through. Not only do they endure these trials, they try to help others who might be going through the same problems. Regardless of the situation, these new believers remained faithful.

Notice that the passage starts out with: “Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ.” The inference here is that the readers have changed since they first met Jesus. They no longer have that fire that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As was the case with the church at Ephesus in Revelation, these people did not love God or others as they first had. They had lost their first love. The relationship was still there, but the fellowship was not.

Churches all over the world are suffering from the effects of Christians who have lost the joy of their salvation and Satan is celebrating a victory. Lukewarm believers are the best advertisement the Devil could ask for. Not only does he celebrate this situation, he cultivates it. When we allow ourselves to fall back into a state of mere existence as a Christian, the devil does everything in his power to keep us from realizing our situation. As long as he can point to us as examples of what Christ does to people, he is happy.

God’s message to the church is to return to the joy and the excitement that comes from knowing what your future holds. Share the Good News and minister to the body so that people will see that we are different. We have problems just like everyone else, but we don’t let them get us down because we know where our future lies. As the hymn says – “Let Others See Jesus in You.”

We serve an awesome God!!!!!