"So terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." This was Israel's view of Sinai. Even Moses, to whom God spoke, could not stand at Sinai fearless. At Sinai, sinful and unforgiven man stands before an infinitely holy and perfectly just God. No wonder the people shuddered. The symbols of Sinai are darkness, fire, trembling, and trumpets of judgment. And for an unforgiven sinner, "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
God gave Israel the covenant of law in the middle of the wilderness, away form all distractions, all interference, and all hiding places. They had nothing to focus on but God, and in doing so became terribly aware of their own sinfulness. The first thing that leads a person to repentance and dependence on God for deliverance is the awareness of his sinfulness. Only seeing our sin can make us see our need for salvation from sin from the judgment it brings. This was the purpose of Sinai, to bring the people face to face with their own sinfulness, with NO place to hide.
The law is God's great mirror. When we look into it, we see our selves as we really are...immeasurably short of God's standard of righteousness. There is not a single commandment that we have kept perfectly or can keep perfectly, in either act or attitude. Praise God for Jesus Who alone can look into that mirror with the perfection of His holy self reflected rightly and wonderfully. And through Him, through Him Alone, does our refection measure full and sure, forgiven and fearless!
[Most of this post was copied from John MacArthur's commentary on Hebrews 12:18-21, page 412, chapter 36.]
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Rivet Our Eyes
A rivet is a short metal bolt that holds together two plates of metal. It is beaten down and pressed into place sometimes using heat. To think about riveting our eyes using this definition is not a pleasant thought. However, I love it when thinking of the seriousness of keeping our eyes "fixed" on Christ.
John MacArthur in his commentary on Hebrews uses the word when explaining Hebrews 12:2. He says, "the world has always mocked faith, just as they mocked Jesus' faith... But in faith, Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame." Why should we not also trust God in everything, since we have not begun to suffer what Jesus suffered? Jesus has set such a high example of faith that it is on His example that we should 'rivet' our eyes for as long as we live...it is imperative that we fix our eyes on Jesus."
Some chapters ahead as Dr. MacArthur discusses 12:12, "the hands that are weak and knees that are feeble", he explains the importance of "not concentrating on our own weaknesses but to help strengthen other Christians in theirs. One of the surest ways to be encouraged ourselves is to give encouragement to someone else, 'encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near' (Hebrews 10:25). One of the best ways to keep continuing is to encourage others to continue."
"'And make straight paths for your feet' refers to staying in your own lane in the race. When you get out of your lane, you not only disqualify yourself but often interfere with other runners. A runner never intentionally gets out of his lane; he only does so when he is distracted or careless, when he loses his concentration on the goal, or when fatigue robs him of the will to win."
This brings us full circle to the "riveted eyes". Proverbs 4:25-27 as reference by Dr. MacArthur, says, "Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil".
We must wake up daily and fix our eyes on Christ and keep them there throughout the day. This sounds like something to which we do the adjusting in order to get the right focus. But the only way for this to be our lifestyle is by a humble bowing of the head moment by moment and pray for the our God to keep our eyes "riveted" on Him. Only then can we honor and glorify His great name.
John MacArthur in his commentary on Hebrews uses the word when explaining Hebrews 12:2. He says, "the world has always mocked faith, just as they mocked Jesus' faith... But in faith, Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame." Why should we not also trust God in everything, since we have not begun to suffer what Jesus suffered? Jesus has set such a high example of faith that it is on His example that we should 'rivet' our eyes for as long as we live...it is imperative that we fix our eyes on Jesus."
Some chapters ahead as Dr. MacArthur discusses 12:12, "the hands that are weak and knees that are feeble", he explains the importance of "not concentrating on our own weaknesses but to help strengthen other Christians in theirs. One of the surest ways to be encouraged ourselves is to give encouragement to someone else, 'encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near' (Hebrews 10:25). One of the best ways to keep continuing is to encourage others to continue."
"'And make straight paths for your feet' refers to staying in your own lane in the race. When you get out of your lane, you not only disqualify yourself but often interfere with other runners. A runner never intentionally gets out of his lane; he only does so when he is distracted or careless, when he loses his concentration on the goal, or when fatigue robs him of the will to win."
This brings us full circle to the "riveted eyes". Proverbs 4:25-27 as reference by Dr. MacArthur, says, "Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil".
We must wake up daily and fix our eyes on Christ and keep them there throughout the day. This sounds like something to which we do the adjusting in order to get the right focus. But the only way for this to be our lifestyle is by a humble bowing of the head moment by moment and pray for the our God to keep our eyes "riveted" on Him. Only then can we honor and glorify His great name.
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