How Should We Pursue God?

Hebrews 12:14-24

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through it many become defiled. And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears. For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more. For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.” Hebrews 12:14-24 NET

The critical question that arises from this passage is: how can we genuinely pursue peace with everyone, particularly when the person we seek to engage isn't receptive to peaceful interaction? Is it truly feasible to embody peace in every situation? Absolutely! Pursuing peace is not merely a journey; it is a profound transformation. It means actively seeking Jesus and allowing His presence to radiate from within us. Peace transcends mere agreement; it is about reaching out to others for the sake of the kingdom, understanding that each individual has a unique destiny to discover their Father God and to experience His fullness through the sacrifice of Jesus. Embracing this mission can change lives—including our own.

The Great Commission aims to expand the kingdom's reach, ensuring that no one is left out of the abundant grace available to all. Each of us carries wounds—emotional, spiritual, or social—that can easily distort our present reality. It's tempting to allow this pain to define us as victims, but we must remember that receiving Jesus as our Savior transforms us; we are given a brand new heart, not simply a repaired or reclaimed one. This powerful transformation replaces our brokenness with wholeness. The true challenge lies in fully understanding the magnitude of this gift and resisting the enemy's relentless lies that seek to pull us back into old, painful memory patterns. We must embrace and live out our new identity with confidence and conviction, because God has proven that He loves us and we are now God’s sons and daughters.

It's crucial that we, as a community, uphold the practice of reminding each other daily to not only reinforce our individual identities in Christ, but also to underscore the fullness or completeness of the promise or gift we've received through Jesus. The message of the cross is one of transformation, or perhaps more aptly, metamorphosis. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, emerging from a cocoon of death, transformed like a caterpillar into a breathtaking, beautiful butterfly. The old nature has died, and we have been reborn into new life in Christ with a new heart.

The passage highlights Esau's immediate need for food, which blinded him to the far-reaching implications of God's provision for his life. In a moment of desperation, he callously traded his birthright for a mere bowl of soup, failing to grasp the profound significance of what he was forfeiting. This serves as a powerful reminder of how easily we can let urgent, practical needs dominate our thoughts, clouding our vision of the grander narrative at play. As the firstborn of Abraham, Esau had a divine purpose, and a legacy intertwined with God's promises. The blessings bestowed by Isaac held the power to shape his future and that of his descendants. Yet, in a critical moment, he chose the fleeting satisfaction of food over the lasting blessings that were his as the firstborn. Consequently, God turned away from Esau and chose his brother Jacob to fulfill the divine promises, illustrating the stark consequences prioritizing the immediate needs of the flesh over the eternal purposes.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of your creator the living God, so much so that even Moses said “I shake with fear,” not because of fear of punishment, but fear that a celestial being that was interacting with him and He was anything but human but was other worldly. Thanks be to God that He loves us, and we now have access to our heavenly Father directly through Jesus.

Moses and the children of Israel witnessed the awe-inspiring presence of God through the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night—extraordinary manifestations of His unapproachable power. These symbols were not just remarkable sights; they were powerful demonstrations of God’s authority over the natural world, through which He communicated with Moses and the children of Israel.

Today, we embrace an even greater revelation through Jesus Christ. We have ascended to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. We stand as part of the assembly of the firstborn, our names are enrolled in heaven because of our believing loyalty in the One who gave His life for us; He is the ultimate judge of all.

We unite with the faithful who have come before us, perfected through Jesus, the mediator of a new and glorious covenant. The freshly killed blood of Jesus, sprinkled over us, transcends mere symbolism; it is a powerful force that completely washes away our sins and restores our relationship with Him and our heavenly Father.

One crucial point that is often overlooked is that Jesus transcends time itself; there is no division between the moment of His sacrifice and our present reality. He exists perpetually in the now, unhindered by the limitations of time. His blood carries unmatched power; it embodies the very essence of our salvation, relevant and vital for every moment of our lives today and for eternity.

Remember the powerful words of Jesus: "Where two or more are gathered, I am in the midst of them." This profound statement emphasizes the vital importance of seeking Christ in the lives of our fellow believers. When we consciously choose to love and unite with one another, we open ourselves to experiencing Jesus in transformative ways that can reshape our relationships. By prioritizing love over our own preferences, we not only deepen our connection with others but also encounter Jesus in ways that propel us toward spiritual growth and true unity. Let us embrace this calling to gather, love, and grow together in faith, knowing that His presence is among us at all times.

Stephen Barnett