You have not had to approach things which your senses could experience as they did in the old days - flaming fire, black darkness, rushing wind and out of it a trumpet-blast, a voice speaking human words. So terrible was that voice that those who heard it begged and prayed that it might say no more. For what it had already commanded was more than they could bear - that "if even a beast touch this mountain it must be stoned." So fearful was the spectacle that Moses cried out, "I am terrified and tremble!"
   No, you have been allowed to approach the true Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have drawn near to the countless angelic army, the assembly of the Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven. You have drawn near to God, the Judge of all, to the souls of good men made perfect, and to Jesus, mediator of a new agreement, to that cleansing blood which tells a better story than the blood of Abel. So be sure you do not refuse to hear the voice that speaks. For if they who refused to hear those who spoke to them on earth did not escape, how little chance of escape is there for us if we refuse to hear the One Who speaks from heaven. Then His voice shook the earth, but now He promises: "Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven."
   This means that in this final "shaking" all that is impermanent will be removed, that is, everything that is merely "made," and only the unshakable things will remain. Since then we have been given a kingdom that is "unshakable," let us serve God with thankfulness in the ways which please Him, but always with reverence and holy fear.
   For it is perfectly true that our God is a burning fire. The Lord will roar like a lion from Jerusalem. His loud voice will sound like a growl from Jerusalem. And the sky and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a safe place for His people. He will be a strong place of safety for the people of Israel.
   Praise the Lord! He promised He would give rest to His people Israel. And He has given us rest! The Lord has kept all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.

Taken from Hebrews 12, Joel 3, I Kings 8, The Phillips Translation and The
Everyday Bible. For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221.
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