Redeemed Again

Do we only get one shot at it?

For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over. - Hebrews 6:4-8

The message in today's reading is intended to scare us.

It appears to be saying that once we have decided to follow Christ, we should not sin, for if we do, we run the risk of never being forgiven.

I understand the imagery of crucifying Christ again by turning away.  That makes sense, and that alone should be enough to keep me on the right path, for who wants to live with that thought?

But if there is a central theme to The Bible, it is that God puts up with a lot from us.  Throughout history, we have turned away again and again, so it is a normal state of affairs for us humans.

And I guess that is the point.  We will fall away.  It is more likely than not.  So, if we are just a little bit scared, maybe we will try harder to stay the course.

If God is all forgiving and loving, what is the risk of being abandoned by Him?  That's how we can let ourselves fall, by taking God for granted.

The lesson here is that God knows our intentions.  If we set out to play by our rules, chances are we will find we cut ourselves off from God.

And who wants to live that way?

More to come...