“A Bad Deal”
Hebrews 12:14-17
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (12:2).
“Looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God” (12:15).
A believer who fails to stay focused upon his Lord will focus upon something else and will begin to fall short of His grace. He will become a source of trouble instead of blessing and will harm many! (Deuteronomy29:18).
Two areas which believers are tempted to focus upon are mentioned:
- “Lest there be any fornicator” (12:16).
Fornication refers to all sexual activity between two persons outside of marriage. Our society today is saturated with enticements to this sin.
Believers who are not “looking unto Jesus” will “fall short of the grace of God” and many can fall into immorality and cause trouble to many.
- “Or profane person”
Esau is given as an example of a profane person. He sold his birthright for a meal of red beans (Genesis 25:27-34). The birthright belonged to the oldest son of a family. At his father’s death he would become head of the household. As head of the household he would have the following responsibilities:
- He would be responsible for the spiritual welfare of the family. He would be the family priest and offer regular sacrifices for the family.
- He would be responsible for the physical welfare of the family. To compensate him for these responsibilities he would receive a double portion of the inheritance.
When Jacob offered to assume the responsibilities, Easu was faced with a “deal or no deal” situation. He could take the deal, satisfy his present hunger, and be freed from the responsibilities of the birthright to live his life as he chose. Or, he could refuse the deal, assume the responsibilities, and receive his inheritance. He and his family would have had the honor of being in the line of the Redeemer.
He made a bad deal!
Sadly, many believers are making the same deal and are forfeiting their full inheritance as “firstborn ones” (12:23).