Lesson 444 - Junior

Memory Verse

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6).

Notes

The Law on Mount Sinai

In this lesson we have one more comparison of the Old Covenant with the New. "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, . . ." [HEB:12:18-19]). In this statement Paul is speaking of the awesome event of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The earth shook, billows of smoke rolled from the mountain, and a trumpet blew long and loud (no one knew who was blowing it). It was enough to frighten the stoutest heart. God had already warned that if even an animal touched the mountain at that time, it was to be killed. God wanted to impress upon them His holiness, so He made the rule that no one was to approach the mountain. It was holy ground, and anyone who walked on it was to be killed at once.

God is just as holy today, but in this Dispensation He does not send judgment right away when a person disregards His holiness. He is longsuffering and merciful. He is holding out His arms and saying, "Come unto Me." Jesus loves us so much that He has even shed tears over the sinners. He realises more than we do the fearfulness of hell, and He does not want anyone to go there.

Greater Judgment

Judgment fell upon those people who disobeyed God when the Law was given on Mount Sinai. We now have the Better Covenant, the merciful loving Saviour with open arms, the price of our redemption paid. Do you not think people who disobey God now deserve to go to hell? God warned that greater judgment would fall on the people who disregard Jesus in this Dispensation. Then the mountain shook, but when God rises up to judge at the end of this age, both the heavens and the earth will be shaken. In fact the Apostle Peter tells us: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" [2PE:3:10]).

Hard Places

Paul gives some instructions in Hebrews 12 and 13 on how we can be prepared to meet Jesus, so we can escape all the judgment. Perhaps we have been saved and served God faithfully for a while, but as time goes by and Jesus does not come, some may become careless or tired of serving God. They think they have so many trials or hard places, they wonder if it pays. Remember that Jesus had some hard places, too. Most people rejected Him, did not love Him; and eventually He had to die on the cross. We have never had to suffer anything as bad as what Jesus suffered for us. That should encourage everyone to hold fast until Jesus comes.

Sometimes we may unintentionally or thoughtlessly do something we should not, and our parents or our ministers may reprove us. We are not to fight back or justify ourselves. Let us try to improve through the instructions we get. If parents really love their children they will punish them when they do wrong. They want to have good children whom everyone will love.

A Blessing to Others

After we have become Christians ourselves we are to do what we can to help others. Often people could forget their own troubles if they tried to relieve the distress of someone else. Let us try always to make peace and not be the cause of trouble for anyone. When we are sanctified, made holy, the Bible tells us we will all be of one accord, we will agree. It is going to take that holiness to prepare us for Heaven. God will not have people in Heaven who cannot get along with others. Heaven is going to be a happy place where everyone will be peaceable.

The devil wants people to backslide, so he will suggest things to the Christian that might, if he continues to think about it, make him bitter. That bitterness in his heart has robbed him of his salvation, and usually will cause many other people to be unhappy, also.

"Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" [HEB:13:1-2]).

It is good to have friends, and people of similar dispositions enjoy being together; but we will find a real joy in being friendly to others who may not be so likeable. Try befriending someone whom others have neglected, and see how happy it will make you. Invite someone to your home who will not be able to return the invitation. If you invite those only who can do as much for you, you are not giving a thing. You are merely lending, expecting it back. The Lord expects His people to be generous.

This is what He expects of Christians: "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" [ISA:58:7]). Sometimes People will not even take care of their own family -- their own flesh.

Jesus said: "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away" [MAT:5:42]). Paul said: "I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" [ACT:20:35]).

An example of the blessing that come with giving is given in [1CH:29:9], at the time David asked an offering for the building of the Temple: "Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy."

The Narrow Way

Another advice Paul gave was for people to be subject to (or obedient to) those who are their leaders. In fact, he mentioned it twice in one chapter, so he must have felt it was very important. Your parents and your ministers "watch for your souls," and though you may think the rules are very strict, when you come to the end of your life (and no doubt much sooner) you will realise that was what you needed to prepare you for Heaven. Jesus said the way to Heaven was "narrow," there is no room for our own ways and sin. We must take Jesus' way only. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" [ISA:1:19]). The Lord will take care of those who obey Him.

The trials and chastening that come to us along life's way are from the Lord -- at least the Lord permits them -- and will perfect us for the heavenly Kingdom if we learn from them. If we resist corrections, become embittered by trials, we will lose our soul. Jesus will make us happy overcomers if we ask Him every day to help us. We overcome by the Blood of Jesus. He is our great Shepherd and will lead His sheep into green pastures if they follow Him.

Questions

1. What happened on Mount Sinai just before God gave the Law?

2. What kind of judgment was sent upon people who disobeyed the Law?

3. What will shake when Jesus comes back to earth in judgment?

4. What can a person do to help him forget his troubles?

5. What does sanctification do for people?

6. What does the Apostle say about entertaining strangers?

7. How are we to treat those who watch over our souls?

8. How can we overcome all our trials?