WHERE WE ARE 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 13 of 13

CONCLUSION

The marvelous benefits to which this series introduced us are not merely good ideas. They do not represent a theological position to be argued or defended. This is an aspect of the Gospel of Christ, which is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom 1:16). The knowledge of these realities is calculated to give us the advantage in the good fight of faith. "Your faith" becomes "the victory that overcometh the world" because of these things (1 John 5:4-5). This text does not speak of possibilities, but of PRESENT realities. These are not things to which we CAN come, but things to which we "ARE come!" We do not work ourselves into an awareness of these, but fight the fight to believe they are so. This is the testimony of the Lord, not the assessment of a man. This is not the interpretation of an inspired writer, but a revelation to us through a holy man of God. Think not of the "author's intended meaning" when you deal with this passage! The thing to be received is the Lord's own proclamation--believe it! In Christ, this is where you "ARE come!" You "ARE come" to the most elevated place accessible to men--"Mount Zion." Accept the truth--you are come to the city occupied and blessed by "the living God!" The city you NOW occupy is a heavenly one in heavenly places, where spiritual blessings in abundance can be possessed--the "heavenly Jerusalem." If you wonder of the advantages belonging to those occupying this place, you are NOW in the presence of an incalculable number of "ministering spirits," all devoted by divine appointment to minister to you--an "innumerable company of angels." The assembly to which you NOW belong is recognized and honored in heaven--their "names are written in heaven." You "ARE come" to "God the Judge of all," Whose judgement is now FOR you, and not against you. By faith look at your spiritual environment: you are NOW in the presence of the One administrating the New Covenant--and He is doing it for you! You not only have been "sprinkled" with the blood of Christ, that blood is presently accessible to cleanse and purify you continually (1 John 1:7). What a blessing is ours! Let us rejoice in the Lord! In Christ we "ARE come" to the greatest of all blessings. We have access to everything required to make it safely out of this world and into the next. By God's grace, we can be ready for the judgement, and prepared to reign with Christ, world without end. We "ARE come" to the mount of blessing, and you can expect a blessing while there. PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to see the magnitude of Your great salvation. Deliver me from miniscule and stunted views of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus! I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

-- TOMORROW: JUSTIFIED BY FAITH -- -- MONDAY, New Series: JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN!!