Hebrew 3:12-15 – Hang in there!

It’s important to start well but it is equally important to hang in there, especially when the going gets tough. To do so would require that we persevere no matter what. In these verses, the author shows us how we should do it. It must be said that while salvation is obtained by grace, maintaining the sanctified life is a believer’s lifelong responsibility. In these verses, the author set out to show his readers how to stay in the journey of faith steadfastly. He told them the necessity to take care not to drift into the perils of unbelief.

Verse 12 is a call to avoid the sin of unbelief that would lead one away from God. This and the next three verses tell us that unbelief begins from the heart. Here, the author referred to it as an unbelieving heart. Not only does unbelief flow from the heart, it is also the root of all sins. That’s why it has to be dealt with severely. Verse 13 also shows us that unbelief will lead to sin that will eventually harden one’s heart. It is a constant threat to God’s people. That’s why verse 13 exhorts us to encourage one another each day. The word “today” implies that unbelief is a constant and daily threat to the believers.

Furthermore, unbelief is deceptive and is closely associated with disobedience (verse 18). In verse 12, the author tells us that to hang in there we also need to exercise great caution. The exhortation to take care is a warning. It is like saying be on guard, be careful. Verse 13 exhorts every believer to be an encourager. As believers, we are encouraged to exercise this gift of encouragement daily because unbelief is a daily threat. Encouragement is also needed because sin is deceitful. When a person is being deceived, he certainly would need someone to alert him to it.

In verse 14, the author urged that we believers must hold fast and stay through to what we have obtained in Christ. Why? For we have shared His nature hence we must keep holding on to it. Quoting Psalm 95:7 the author rounded up in verse 15 reminding us to stay obedient and not to resist the voice of God.

Each time God speaks to us, we are plunged into a crisis of belief. We are free-will moral being. While obedient is what God desires and requires, we have the choice whether to obey or disobey. Each time we obey we find ourselves drawn closer to God.  And when we choose not to, we will find ourselves hardening towards Him and drawn farther away from Him. So, let us ensure that we are pliable before the Lord. We need to search our heart constantly and ensure that it is yielded to God.