Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 30
Cast Not Away Your Confidence
Hebrews 10:35-36 (KJV) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Following Christ is a daily counting of the cost for there is apparently much to lose, yet, the writer of Hebrews assures the believers in affliction, there is a great recompense of reward. Therefore, the believers are exhorted to remain faithful following Christ.
The hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” attributed to an Indian prince, carries well the thought:
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back, no turning back.
Though no one join me, still I will follow
Though no on join me, still I will follow
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back, no turning back.
The writer will go on in Hebrews chapter 11 to share from biblical history, the men and women of faith, thirteen of them by name, who trusted God and persevered to the end, to strengthen our faith and undergird our confidence to press on and not give up in our Christian walk.
The verb “cast away”, “apobállō” in Greek, consist of the preposition “away from” and the verb “to throw away” which means “to cause to cease or to do away with”, here with reference to the Christian faith.
Let not the trials and temptations overcome you. Be not discouraged, the Lord will help you overcome. After exhorting us of God’s mighty workings in the life of men in biblical history, the writer says, let Jesus be our supreme example – Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The “confidence” here is in relation to God in Christ, having a joyful sense of freedom from sin in Christ for we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (v10), cleansed by the blood of Jesus (v19). Therefore, there is a boldness in the believer’s walk as he abiding in Christ – John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
There is victory through Christ from the clutches of Satan, the flesh and the world, though the enemies be menacing and persisting.
The writer of Hebrews comforts the Jewish Christians who experienced loss of their possessions and earthly comforts as a result of coming to his aid while he was in prison. He assured them that their labour for the Lord in the gospel work brings with it great recompense of reward that will come their our way in Christ for this life is but a speck of time compared with the eternity to come in heaven – Hebrews 10:34 (KJV) For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
The phrase “recompense of reward” speaks of payment or wages for labour or work done. In other words, their labour will not be in vain in the Lord. The believer is assured by the Holy Spirit the reality of the eternal promise.
Therefore, it gives a perspective to present suffering, that there is a future compensation or reward for the present labour or losses. In the flesh, that reward seemed so distant and remote and unreal. As such, the exhortation for “patience”.
Hebrews 10:36 (KJV) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
There is a need of patience, that is, having steadfast adherence to keep on believing in Christ and not despise Him in spite of difficulties and testings. The word “patience” speaks of steadfast endurance, fortitude midst difficult circumstances.
When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they grumbled against God for giving them only manna. Manna was the best food for them in the wilderness environment that will nourish and keep them healthy as they en-route soon to the Promised Land. There in the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, they would be landowners, each with their own inheritance allotted to them by God. Instead, the children of Israel, incited by Egyptians who came out with them provoked them to murmur against the provision of God , questioning God’s wisdom – Numbers 11:5-6 (KJV) We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. It was a misrepresentation against God for the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt who cried to God for help that He delivered them with a mighty and a stretched out arm.
How easily we forget the past mercies of God when He brings us to some level of comfort in this present life. That has been the sad state of the children of Israel through many periods of their history. God created the nation of Israel so that the children of Israel will be a witness to the glory of the living and true God who cared for them. That was the will of God for Israel. God’s promise was that they would inherit the Promised Land. The wilderness travel will be temporal compared with the permanence of life in the Promised Land.
For the believers in Christ, we have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Jesus says to us in John 14:1-3 (KJV) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it werenot so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Hebrews 10:37-39 (KJV) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Jesus’ return is imminent and He brings His reward for His faithful servants. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee