There are five warnings in Hebrews along a path away from God and right now, we’re reading Chapter 10’s warning against “despising the Word.”
There also are three critical verses on a path back to God.
The first is faith.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…” — Hebrews 10: 19
We have access to the God who created us and everything around us. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, when my daughter-in-law died, when my son’s truck was totaled, when my grandson was diagnosed with “childhood absent epilepsy,” when wife Mary Ella broke her leg, when I was diagnosed with wet macular degeneration — I prayed and it made all the difference believing I had access to the throne room of God.
The second is hope.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
— Hebrews 10:23
Because we have access to God, we have hope, which is a mix of expectation, resilience, and perseverance. Grandson Brady was a year old when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and I prayed for life to see him graduate from high school and now he’s a sophomore at the University of Georgia.
And the third is love.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together ...”
— Hebrews 10: 24-25
Because we have access to God, we are a part of a community of faith and are encouraged by all those people who have access to God.
Last week, we talked about prayer in our Sunday school and people began to share their experiences with prayer and my faith came to life in a new way.
Maybe we’ve forgotten the most important part of access to God. That we have access to the throne of God to give thanks for all he’s done for us.
I’m cancer-free, Jim is remarried, Al wasn’t hurt in the wreck, Greyson is medication-free and epilepsy-free, Mary Ella’s leg is healed, and I’m getting shots in to control the issue with my eye.
I prayed and it made all the difference believing I had access to the throne of God.
“Thank you, Lord for everything you’ve done for us, in Jesus’ name!”
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo.
