Wrestling Through Unbelief: Hebrews 10
THE FRUIT OF UNBELIEF: DRAWING BACK (HEBREWS 10:26-39)
It has been helpful to me to reconnect to the book of Hebrews as I wrestle through my freshly exposed unbelief. I need help to position my heart rightly regarding what is unfolding and how to stay encouraged, engaged, and postured for the “suddenly” with sobriety. The context of the book is a people drawing back under pressure: drawing back from Jesus, from the New Covenant, and from one another. They were retreating into the familiar under pressure as they craved normalcy and the routines and rhythms that they knew how to navigate. The disruption of the New Covenant and the new movement that they were a part of, the difficulties associated with their new faith, and the distress and discouragement of the immediate hardship associated with persecution and doubt had worn them down significantly. The book was written to urge the Jewish believers to refuse to draw back from their promises.
The writer of Hebrews explores the “stakes” of drawing back in Heb. 10:26-31 through the lens of the fear of the Lord – we can draw back in unbelief, but we will have to answer for what we have abandoned or relinquished because of the disruption, difficulty, distress, and discouragement. Ultimately, the thing that begins to realign our hearts is the “beginning of wisdom” – the fear of the Lord who will judge His people (Heb. 10:30). The writer declares that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31)
In the next section, the writer explores the glory and the reward of pressing on in faith for what we have been promised – a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven (Heb. 10:34) and great reward for our confidence in Jesus and His leadership (Heb. 10:35) by which, after we have done the will of God, we may receive the promise (Heb. 10:36). The summary statement of the writer reminds us who we are in Christ, stating, “We are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb. 10:39) In essence, the writer declares, “You are of the ones who stay with this! You are numbered among the faithful ones who won’t quit! This is who you are now by grace!”