WHERE WE HAVE COME

'For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:18-24, NASB )

Devotion 2 of 13

WHERE WE HAVE NOT COME

In reasoning with our hearts, the Spirit first emphasizes where we have NOT come. Our situation is a "better" one, and thus He draws attention first to the inferior place. It is interesting to note the less effective place was one appointed by God. God Himself came there, together with thousands of holy angels. The holy law of God was promulgated at this place, as the "finger of God" inscribed the "words of the covenant" on tables of stone. What an occasion it was--and yet this is NOT where we have come in Christ.

A mountain that may be touched

Actually, by commandment, the mountain was NOT to be touched. "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up nto the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount" (Ex 19:12-13, NASB). By "may be touched," the Spirit means a mountain accessed by the senses; a mountain pertaining to this world. It was a touchable mountain, even though the people were not allowed to do so. We have NOT COME to a place of earthly elevation. Life in Christ is not life on a higher natural plain. It is not humanity brought to a super-plateau, so to speak. The loftiest revelation in nature occurred at Sinai. God was revealed more extensively there than in nature itself. Nature does bear the thumbprint of the Almighty. His "power and Godhead (Deity)" are evident in creation (Rom 1:20). Concerning this testimony, the Psalmist wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard" (Psa 19:1-3). But nature does not reveal God to the extent of the Sinaitic revelation. There nature, marked by the evidence of its Creator, nearly collapsed! God has not brought us to that kind of mountain--a "mountain that may be touched"--a tangible mountain.

A blazing fire

What an awesome occasion it was! In a day marked by religious mediocrity, when men can be so easily impressed, it is good to read of the "blazing fire" of Mount Sinai. "And all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance." (Ex 20:18, NASB). The majesty of that time is difficult to conceive--and yet we must make an effort to do so. "And the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top" (Ex 24:16-17, NASB). Moses later said of that mountain, "And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the very heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud and thick gloom" (Deut 4:11). Again, Moses reminded the people, "These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire . . . " (Deut 5:22, NASB). This "blazing fire" was a revelation of the Almighty to a people whose hearts were unchanged and hard. It was a vivid depiction of the truth, "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deut 4:24; Heb 12:29, NASB). As might be expected, a mountain burning "with fire" was frightening to the people. It certainly did not provoke any of them to want to be close to it. But, we have NOT come to a mountain that may be touched. PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for showing the gracious side of Your character in Christ Jesus. I praise Your name that you have called us to a place where fear does not dominate the heart. Receive my praise in Jesus' name.

-- TOMORROW: DARKNESS AND GLOOM AND WHIRLWIND --