“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.“Heb. 12:28-29
Here is a section of scripture that should get our attention. It should stop us in our tracks and make us all ears. Here we see both “the goodness and severity of God” and we are to “Behold” both as commanded in Rom. 11:22. Doing so should lead to both rejoicing and repentance. Here we see something we have received and something for which we are responsible.
We have received “a kingdom”– the kingdom of God, a kingdom “which cannot be moved“, a kingdom that is a gift, a kingdom that provides “grace”, a kingdom wherein “we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear“. Having such a kingdom we are reminded of the King– “our God“, who is described as “a consuming fire”. That should motivate us to obey Him. As comforting as it is to think of Him as our Father, our King, our Shepherd, etc., it should concern us that He is also “a consuming fire“. Those who come to Him in faith should live for Him in fear. Although we have been accepted by Him and the object of His love we have reason and a responsibility to fear Him.
This is what’s needed in this day when so many have such a light-hearted view of God, causing them to refer to Him as “the man upstairs”. If we truly feared Him we would not think of Him as such, nor feel that we are deserving of His blessings, nor be so unashamed of our failures. We would blush at our sinfulness and take serious our responsibility to serve Him. We would see all ground as holy ground and all duty as a delight rather than drudgery.
He who has the power to establish “a kingdom which cannot be moved” has the power to consume all that is in opposition to it. Loving us as He does He will not allow our sins to go unchecked. His compassion toward us compels Him to correct us– even to the point of consuming that which we unlawfully delight in. Knowing what we need He sometimes must destroy what we desire because it would be destructive to us. And He always maintains the perfect balance between His goodness and severity. He is “our God“, but “a consuming fire” nevertheless. Although He has entered into an everlasting covenant with us He will consume that which is contrary to His eternal purpose for us. Knowing this, let us “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”.– HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
