“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken —that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain” ( Hebrews 12:25-27 )
Unlike the Israelites who trembled with fear as God spoke to them from the earthly mountain, we speak directly to God, which is why it is very important to pay attention to the message. If the Israelites did not escape when God spoke to them from earth, how will we escape if we ignore what is spoken to us from His heavenly position?
At that time, His voice shook the earth and now, once again, the promise is that everything that can be shaken will be. In the end, everything created will be removed. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” ( II Peter 3:10-13 ).
Everything created will be destroyed in this way in order that what cannot be shaken may remain for eternity. As believers we have been given a kingdom that cannot be shaken or removed ( Ephesians 1:13-14, Hebrews 12:28 ). Which is why we must pay attention to what God is speaking to us; so that the things in our lives that need to be removed can be, now
His desire has always been to create a holy and righteous people for himself ( Exodus 19:5-6, I Peter 2:9-10 ). Entering into this community was accomplished by Jesus and we enter into this standing by faith. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a guide and helpmate to show us the Father and to remind us of what He had said.
Jesus, when preparing the disciples for the things that would come, gave instruction about the Holy Spirit ( John 16 ). He made it very clear what His role would be in the believer’s life. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you” ( John 16:13-15 ). His function is to relay God’s message to us and to make known God’s will for our lives.
The more we heed the voice and direction of God in our lives, the more the strongholds and struggles of this world wash away so we will be the people that God has invited us to be. We have been called into a life of transformation ( II Corinthians 5:17 ) which is why we must pay attention to the words spoken to us each day. Throughout this process we will find grace to help us and in return we will be changed and what remains, will last for eternity to the praise and glory of God. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” ( Hebrews 12:28-19 ).
