Hebrews 12:22-29: a reflection

22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. 25See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, 26whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29for our God is a consuming fire.

The writer of Hebrews lifts our eyes to the unshakable kingdom we are receiving, amid a world where so much is shaken and passes away. We are receiving a kingdom that can't be shaken, he says; therefore let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe. He speaks of a coming shaking, in which all that can be shaken will be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain; and the kingdom we receive in Christ is precisely that which cannot be shaken. In a world where so much is uncertain, shaken, and passing away, we are given an unshakable kingdom that will remain. This shows the comfort of receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Amid a shaking world, we have an unshakable kingdom. What cannot be shaken remains; the kingdom we receive is unshakable. In an uncertain world, God gives an unshakable kingdom.

Notice the contrast between what is shaken and what cannot be shaken. The writer speaks of a shaking, in which everything that can be shaken, all that is made and temporary, will be removed; and this so that what cannot be shaken may remain. And the kingdom we are receiving in Christ is of this second kind: unshakable, permanent, not among the things that will be removed but among what will remain forever. This is a great comfort in a world where so much is shaken. So many things we might build our lives on are uncertain, shakable, passing away: our health, our circumstances, our possessions, our achievements, the structures of the world around us. All of these can be shaken and removed. But the kingdom of God, which we receive in Christ, cannot be shaken; it will remain when all else is shaken away. To have our hope and our security in this unshakable kingdom is to have a foundation that will not be moved, whatever shakings come. And the fitting response is gratitude and reverent worship of the God who gives it. In a shaking world, our security is in the unshakable kingdom of God. The kingdom we receive in Christ will remain when all else is shaken. Build your hope on what cannot be shaken, not on what can. God gives us an unshakable kingdom in an uncertain world.

That is worth resting in, for we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, an unshakable security in a world where so much is shaken and passes away. We can build our lives and hopes on things that can be shaken, our health, circumstances, possessions, and achievements, and be left with nothing when they are shaken away; but the writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and will remain. Our security is in the unshakable. When the things around you are shaken, remember that you are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Rest in the truth that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, an unshakable security in a world where so much is uncertain, shaken, and passing away, as the writer of Hebrews spoke of a shaking in which all that can be shaken, all that is made and temporary, will be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain, and the kingdom we receive in Christ is precisely that which cannot be shaken; for so many things we might build our lives on, our health, our circumstances, our possessions, our achievements, and the structures of the world around us, are uncertain and shakable and will pass away, and can leave us with nothing when they are shaken, but the kingdom of God, which we receive in Christ, cannot be shaken and will remain when all else is shaken away, so that to have our hope and security in this unshakable kingdom is to have a foundation that will not be moved whatever shakings come, and the fitting response is gratitude and the reverent worship of the God who gives it.

Lord, the writer of Hebrews lifts our eyes to the unshakable kingdom we are receiving, amid a world where so much is shaken and passes away. We are receiving a kingdom that can't be shaken, he says; therefore let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe. He speaks of a coming shaking, in which all that can be shaken will be removed, so that what cannot be shaken may remain; and the kingdom we receive in Christ is precisely that which cannot be shaken. In a world where so much is uncertain, shaken, and passing away, you give us an unshakable kingdom that will remain. Show me the contrast between what is shaken and what cannot be shaken. The writer speaks of a shaking, in which everything that can be shaken, all that is made and temporary, will be removed; and this so that what cannot be shaken may remain. And the kingdom I am receiving in Christ is of this second kind: unshakable, permanent, among what will remain forever. This is a great comfort in a world where so much is shaken. So many things I might build my life on are uncertain, shakable, passing away: my health, my circumstances, my possessions, my achievements. All of these can be shaken and removed. But your kingdom, which I receive in Christ, cannot be shaken; it will remain when all else is shaken away. To have my hope and security in this unshakable kingdom is to have a foundation that will not be moved. Take that to my heart, for I am receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Keep me from building my life and hopes on things that can be shaken; help me build my hope on your unshakable kingdom, Lord, so that when the things around me are shaken I remain secure, and let my response be gratitude and reverent worship of you who give me a kingdom that cannot be shaken.