Sermon Snippets’ is an occasional series, taking bitesize chunks from our Sunday sermons. The following excerpt is adapted from a sermon on Hebrews 10:19-39, preached by Nathan Burley last Sunday. You can listen to the whole sermon here.
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Imagine getting home from church one day to find your windows smashed in, your TV and laptop gone, and your stuff strewn all over the road.
And just as you’re trying to work out what’s happened, you see the graffiti down the side of your house. Big letters:
CHRISTIAN SCUM
How would you react to that? To what Christians face all over the world today.
In Laos a month ago, 13 Christians were told that if they didn’t drink the sacred water and return to their old animist religion, they would be evicted and the authorities would tear down their homes.
What would you do?
Here’s what they did. Middle of v34 – this is mind-blowing. “you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property”
Why?!
“since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”
Now that is holding fast without wavering.
Joyfully accepting it?! When they slash your tyres or steal your phone because you invited them to church?
When bad things happen to us, especially when it’s because we’re Christians, it’s so much easier to follow the crowd. Or to doubt God’s goodness.
But remember the lengths He’s gone to! On the basis of everything we’ve learnt about Jesus, stick with it. Remember how He bled for us. Remember how He’s there now, pleading our case before God. And how He’s coming back soon.
God is faithful. He will come good on every single promise He’s made.
So they can take our stuff! We’ve got better stuff coming!
Smash my house up. I’ve got a better house waiting for me! One that will last. Where moth & rust don’t destroy, and thieves can’t break in and steal.
So break in and steal all you want. Knock yourself out! Because ultimately you can’t hurt me.
That’s how confident we can be.
Let’s hold fast. Let’s not waver. Because God is faithful.