When The Shaking Happens

Hebrews 12:25-28
25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29for our God is a consuming fire.

The comparisons between the promises of Judaism and salvation through Christ Jesus continue in a most alarming fashion with these verses. And the event that is used to make these comparisons is the shaking of all things. For the Old Testament believers, the events at Mt. Sinai were legendary. The Lord literally shook the mountain with His great power, using pillars of cloud and fire to help His people see His actions.

Imagine at prolonged earthquake. I’ve only experience one small earthquake while on a visit to California and I must say, it is most unique. We’ve seen (or maybe you’ve even experienced) the devastation of an earthquake. Those building that seemed so strong are suddenly rubble on the ground! Imagine standing at the foot of a mountain and seeing it shake! That was what the Children of Israel experienced, and those events helped them understand the mighty God whom they worshipped. The writer of Hebrews uses that shaking to bring awareness to the Church of what God was doing in and through them. The earth changing death and resurrection of Jesus shook the world but brought peace between God and mankind. (It might be interesting to note here that even in the death of Jesus we find an earthquake. Just something to ponder.) The prophet Haggai spoke of these things too:

Haggai 2:5b-9
5My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.

Judaism with its outward ritual and outdated Mosaic covenant were things that could be shaken. But the treasures they had already received in Christ and the eternal heavenly kingdom already theirs in part would not—in fact, “cannot”—pass away. There could be only one proper reaction for such an unshakable treasure: not to trifle with or toss it aside, but to “be thankful” and to show that thankfulness in worshiping God “acceptably with reverence and awe.” The word “worship” is wider, including service in general. The grateful believer offers his life in service to God with reverence, with eyes cast down humbly in the presence of a holy God. He offers it also with awe, with diligent concern for avoiding whatever might displease his Lord.
Lauersdorf, R. E. ©1986. Hebrews (pp. 168–169). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.

So the pattern looks like this: the Law of God was born out of “shaking”, the death of Christ incited “shaking”, and at The End, all things will be shaken and only that which is of God shall remain.

As I ponder that concept, I am drawn to think about those events that have “shaken” me. I can’t say that my faith was shaken, for these times don’t often include doubt for me. But I confess that sometimes I look out upon the landscape of my life and think that things are a little “shaky” – and I don’t like it! But thank God that His faithfulness remains and I actually always stand on His firm ground.

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