Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
The text above is perplexing to say the least. It is often ignored or reworded by the modern pulpit. Churches are filled with allowances ranging from carnality, immodest clothing, foul language, social drinking, disrespect, disobedience, and much more. The denominational world has made it virtually impossible to be lost. Hell or eternal judgment is a non-starter. Few would consider God sending strong delusions that someone would believe a lie. It does not mesh well with postmodernity where there are no conclusions or settled truths. In fact, personalized “truth” has been widely accepted: “her truth, his truth, their truth.” We are living in the age of non-absolutism.
The Bible does not agree with the American religious community or the social justice crowd. Yes, the Bible speaks of mercy, the prodigal, and a host of other redeeming moments of reconciliation and forgiveness. However, once truth has been given, the recipient has a responsibility to keep it, love it and protect it.
2 Th 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
I want to write of pleasant things to encourage and strengthen our lives. However, I cannot bypass the fact that many will forsake The Truth because they have not embraced it and love it. We have been given something more valuable than gold or diamonds. We have the Name of Jesus and the Word in its purest form. New Life has been blessed with the Apostolic doctrine; the Bible’s only doctrine! However, to retain it we must love it and live it. We are blessed with so many blessings, but we can lose them all if we are not found faithful. Nothing is guaranteed. We long to reach our city, but we must also “save ourselves.” Acts 2:40!
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole