Living life in 3-D

Read Hebrews 10.

There are people who believe that God is distant, unknowable, and unapproachable.
There are people who believe, yet because of circumstances, they have lost confidence.
There are people who believe that their faith is and should remain private.

Under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the writer of Hebrews challenged all three of these erroneous views.

As explained in verses 5-10, Jesus came from heaven to be born in the human family.  Having a body of flesh was necessary in order to shed His blood on the cross.  By the will and purpose of God, that onetime offering of Himself paid the sin debt for everyone.  Unlike the priests in the Old Testament who daily offered sacrifices for sin, Jesus "finished" the redemptive plan (John 19:30).  The furniture in the Tabernacle and Temple had no chair.  The work was continuous.  But with the sacrifice of Jesus, He "sat down".

What impact should this have on the daily lives of Christ-followers?  The results are meant to move us into 3-Dimensional living.

1. UPWARD. (v.22)
"Let us draw near" to God.  We have a Savior who loves us and gave Himself for us.  He has opened direct access to the very presence of God.  Several times in this book believers have been urged to come confidently and boldly to Him for help in time of need.

2. INWARD. (v.23)
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering."  While there is joy in Jesus, life is filled with disappointment, confusion, and pain of all kinds.  Those who turn to the Lord in such times find their faith strengthened.  Those who only focus on their difficulties experience a wavering in their faith.

3. OUTWARD. (vv.24-25)
"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."  True faith in Jesus is never meant to be a private affair.  We are saved to serve other people.  "For some have no knowledge of God.  I say this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:34)  Telling others the Good News that forgiveness is available to them is the primary task of a Christian.  Helping one another in various times of need demonstrates that we are part of the Body of Christ.  The Bible knows nothing of a lone believer.  We meet together in the local Bible teaching church to be encouraged and to encourage one another in the faith.

The absence of any one of these three will result in a distorted picture of what it means to be a follower of Christ.  However, when all three are functioning properly the effects become more vivid than a watching a 3-D movie.  Life comes alive.