Hebrews 3

There certainly may have been many people in the first century who wondered whether Jesus was above the heavenly angels in His power and wisdom, but there were surely many Jews (and even Gentiles) who knew more about about Moses, and the Law of Moses, than they did about angels. Certainly many of them were convinced that it was a more serious offense against God to violate the Law of Moses (and even the traditions that had built up over time around that Law) than to violate the grace of Jesus Christ. But is this true? In Hebrews, God addresses this important practical issue, practical for those who had once worshiped in synagogues, but who now were part of Christian assemblies worshiping Yahweh through Jesus the Messiah.

Moses was a savior figure, but he was not the Messiah. Moses was called to bring the people out of the land of bondage, and to bring them into the land of promise. As great a man as he was, he was not even ultimately permitted to bring the people across the Jordan into Canaan. He could only see that land from afar. But when Moses left this world, he was taken by God to heaven, the real land of promise. Jesus is the apostle and high priest who we profess. He alone has brought us securely to heaven. Moses was faithful, but the calling of Jesus was above the calling of Moses, and Jesus lacked nothing in the perfection of all His great faithfulness.

Jesus is higher than Moses in His glory. He is the builder of the new kingdom, His own temple house, which is a house made up of people, a body of which He is the head. He has more honor than the house that He built, since the house derives all of its honor and glory from Him. Moses is a part of the body of Christ, the living house of God. He is not the head of the body; he is not the cornerstone of the living temple. Jesus is both the Man at the head of His house, but He is even the divine Builder of His new world. He went to heaven to prepare a place for you. Moses is the servant in God's house, but Jesus is the Prince, the Son of God over everyone in the house. We who believe, who hold fast our confidence in the midst of persecution, who cling to the promise of heaven as our hope and Christ is our boast, we are the Lord's visible holy temple on earth, His church.

Jesus says in another place, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” This world is a place, and today is a day, when we need to hear the voice of God calling us to a life of faith. Psalm 19 tells us that the voice of God shouts of His glory in the pathway of the sun every day, from its rising to its setting. It is like the greatest bridegroom pursuing His glorious bride. The voice of God also speaks to us in His written Word, showing us the truth of God, His Law, and His heavenly promise. We need to hear Him both in nature and in the holy oracles of our religion. We need to believe Him and obey Him. Psalm 95 begins with this call to worship, but it also includes an important warning. The first generation in the wilderness did not entirely worship and live in faith, and we are told that God was not pleased with that generation. Even Moses fell short of the Law that has come to bear his name. Yet by God's grace and truth, a Man came who secured a place for Moses in a better land than Israel. On the strength of His sure achievement of the task set before Him, even Moses was brought by Jesus to that higher place, long before the Son of God was born of Mary.

Though our eternal position in Christ is sure for all who call upon His Name, and though the eternal election of God can never be thwarted, yet there is a way of living that makes sense for people resting on Christ, and there is a way of unbelief that does not make sense for us. Why should we live as those who have no faith? Holy is as holy does; and yet God gives more grace.

As the land of Israel was for the people of Moses, the assembly of the worshiping church is for the people of Jesus Christ. As it should have been a horrifying thought for Moses and the generation that died in the wilderness to be cut off from the Lord's nation in their day, it should be a repulsive idea for us to break fellowship with the Lord's church on earth.

Sin is deceitful. A man can be led by sin to reject the wife of his youth, and to break covenant with her, bringing misery upon himself and many others. There can be forgiveness and even heaven for such a man who believes and mourns, and even a foolish man can be saved, but foolishness in the pursuit of evil is nowhere recommended as the continuing pathway of life. It is in the worshiping assembly of Jesus that we travel together through this wilderness to the Promised Land above. Together we can hear His voice. We must not harden our hearts. We want to walk in the ways of heaven now. We have only this one life here in the land of mortality, and only this one lifetime of testing. This is our opportunity for faith working through love. This is a gift not to be squandered or thoughtlessly thrown away.

The bodies that fell in the wilderness are a warning to us. The book of Numbers records their story for a purpose. Christ died for the ungodly, but we need not show disrespect for that Name, upon which we have called for heavenly life by pursuing ungodliness and forsaking the Lord. Here is a warning for us who want to live in the love of Christ. Our entrance into the true Promised Land is through His cross and resurrection. As members of the household of faith, let us hear His heavenly voice together even now, let us walk in heavenly worship even now, let us live in heavenly love even now. It is a dangerous thing to habitually violate the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.