“Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permits.”
Hebrews 6:1-3
As someone once said, “You can’t stay where you are and go with God.”
When Jesus called His disciples, He simply said “Follow Me” (Mt. 4:19a). And, even though He added “And I will make you fishers of men” (v.19b), He didn’t explain what that meant. He simply said “Come. . .follow. . .and I will make you—i.e., change, transform you.”
And, it’s interesting that “they immediately left their nets and followed Him” (v.20).
No questions asked. No asking for explanations or an itinerary. No requests for a delayed commitment or change-of-schedule.
They simply “left ALL and followed Him” (Lk. 18:28). Period.
Why, then, do we think we can do less and still be a follower of Christ?
We either go WHEN He calls and WHERE He leads or we’ll not be a true disciple—for we’re still trying to stay in control and do things our own way.
Evidently, the recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews were struggling in their faith and being tempted to turn their backs on Christ for survival’s sake. If the truth be known, the same is true today. If we’re not a daily student of God’s Word, then most likely we’re “double-minded and unstable in all of our ways. . .more resembling a wave that is driven by the wind. . .and never having any of our prayers answered” (James 1:6-8).
The remedy for this is our “moving on”—i.e., “leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ and not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” Simply put, it’s time to move on from messages on how to be saved (the ABCs of the faith) to the “meat” of the Word, which includes “the doctrines of baptism (of water and the Spirit), of the laying on of hands (ordination, anointing), the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”
Simply put, we need a “working” faith, not a “wasted” faith.
We need to “sanctify God in our hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks us a reason of the Hope that’s in us with meekness and fear” (I Pet. 3:15). This will produce within us “a good conscience whereby we’re able to put to shame those who speak evil of us and accuse us simply because we’re living a righteous life in Christ” (v.16).
So, as someone once said, Pilgrim, “The ball’s in your court.”
What will you do with what you’ve just read? Will you remain where you are? Or, will you “grow up and move on”??
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed until the Day of Redemption” (Eph. 4:30). As the song says, “Tomorrow never comes;” therefore, Today is the Day to hear and heed the Spirit’s Voice (Heb. 3:7). Say, “This I will do, the Lord willing.” Then, do it.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated January 31, 2011
