As we conclude reading the book of Hebrews today; let's share a few words of encouragement and pray. "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT. The believers in Italy during this period were witnessing severe and terrible persecution. Suffering for being a Christian wasn't new to them but this was different, the emperor, Nero, was determined to wipe out Christianity and its followers. They were publicly ridiculed and beaten, others were jailed and their businesses, properties and homes confiscated by the government. Until now, they had accepted it with joy but it was gradually wearing some of them out. Since Nero accepted Judaism and had proclaimed it so, some leaders felt it was safer to revert back to Judaism, and convert back when things cool back down. It was to them Apollos said; "do not throw away your confident trust in the Lord".
The truth is, even today, Christians are living through something similar all over the world. In some places, it is not just governments persecuting Christians, today muslim terrorists particularly target Christians. In some other places, those who stand for Christian values are cancelled, their businesses ruined and confiscated in the name of wokeness and liberalism. My encouragement is the same as the writer of Hebrews; do not cast away your confident hope in the Lord, "let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT. Never forget; "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
Hebrews 13:14 NLT. However long or short, this world is not our home.
