Inside and out

Hebrews 2:1-9

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:


“ What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor, [a]
And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”[b]

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

These verses warn us not to take anything for granted. God has proven His love is true by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us. He left His throne in heaven to come live among us and taste death so that we wouldn't have to. He suffered and died in our place. We have so much to thank Him for. Are we constantly whining about what we don't have? Remember what we do have! We have a place in heaven with the Creator of all that is. There is no substitute for Him. There is no counterfeit that will stand up to all His glory! He is holy, perfect, and full of grace to all who come to Him. But as we see in the first verses those who don't receive this great gift will be subject to judgment, even eternal judgment. Besides all the horrible things we know about hell (from what we read in the bible) the worst thing about it will be the absense of beauty, of goodness, and all that comes from the Lord. In James we're told that every good gift comes from the Father above. So separation from Him would truly be hell. The fire, the worms, the smell.......all that is bad, but the worst part about it will be the absence of the presence of God. All that is good that is on the earth.......the laughter of a happy baby, the singing of the birds, the cool wind upon your face, the rain..........all those wonderful things are given to us by God. The myth of the goodness of man is really the presence of the Holy Spirit. Man is not good by nature. As Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?" I'll tell you who can know it.......it's not you. Only God can know it as we read in the next verse Jeremiah 17:10 "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings." Also God knows the secrets of the heart Psalm 44:21......also Luke 16:15 tells us God knows your heart. Acts 15:8 "So God, who knows the heart......" So only God knows our heart inside and out. That's why David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. David knew that there was stuff in his heart that he didn't even know about or recognize. It's stuff that lays dormant (unknown and unseen) until things start going wrong in our lives. When we pray that prayer that David prayed, the Lord will indeed show us things that we need to let go of. It's up to us whether we will or will not. Please read all the scriptures that are given here. There are also reference verses (clickable links) and please read those as well. It will clarify what is being said here, and will also confirm it. Have a great day, and a blessed weekend. :-) Pastor James