YET ONCE MORE

"Now this, ‘Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain." (Hebrews 12:27)

The expression to which this text refers is found in Haggai 2:6. "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land." Isaiah and Joel referred to the same awesome event (Isa 13:13; Joel 3:16). In the ultimate sense, the promise refers to the demise of the entire natural order. In Hebrews, the Holy Spirit provides a more precise definition of the natural order. It consists of things that are shakeable, or removable. These are things that "are made," or had a beginning. From another perspective, they are "things which are seen" (2 Cor 4:18). In a single phrase, they are "the whole creation" (Rom 8:22). All of these things can be "shaken" because they are "temporal" (2 Cor 4:18).

Nature has been "shaken" before. At the time of the flood, it was shaken severely, resulting in the death of "all flesh" (Gen 7:21). Both Sinai and Calvary also experienced a Divine shaking (Psa 68:8; Matt 27:51-54). But those shakings were nothing to compare with the one that will take place "yet once more." That one will mean "the removal of things that are made," not merely a momentary disruption of them.

The Spirit affirms the reason for the removal of the seen order. It is that "that the things which cannot be shaken may remain." There is another kingdom– another realm–that lies beyond the realm of the seen. It is even more real that what is seen. However, at the present time, it is obscured by the natural order, much like a scaffold hides the structure beneath it.

Already, we are informed, we have "received" this unseen and un shakable kingdom (Heb 12:27). In Christ, we have come into the eternal order, and experience fellowship with its citizenry, together with God and Christ (Heb 12:22-24). That fellowship is wonderful, but has not yet reached its apex. We are greatly hampered and restricted by the things that can be shaken. However, praise the Lord, we live in expectation of the removing of those restricting things. Then we will "know as we are known" (1 Cor 13:12). We ourselves will be "like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:1-2). It is good that we be known as the "yet once more" people–living for that time.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to prepare for that shaking of all things.

-- MONDAY: IS THE PURPOSE THWARTED? --