Hebrews Chapter Twelve, Chastening's Outcome

 

In Israel’s time when Isaiah first wrote this passage, God used pagan nations to refine Israel, and sift the true wheat from the tares. He led them through much chastening, a chastening which His earthly people are still experiencing to this day, in preparation for their national acceptance of Him and their complete restoration.

But individually God refines us, not when we are at ease, but through affliction. Isaiah referred to it as the furnace of affliction, like the smithy’s fire removes dross from pure metal to increase its value. God employs hardship, or in Rehoboam’s case, uses our own foolish choices to advance His purposes for us as His people. Like a sculptor defines his masterpiece with every stroke he takes, God, little by little, removes from us that which offends. This is sanctification, or salvation from sin’s power in our daily life. It does not occur magically, and its does not occur when our faith never needs to endure genuine trials. Indeed, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that trials are what God’s children endure, and if we never endure them, we are not actually His, no matter what we may believe, Hebrews 12:8.

 

Chastening, among other things, reveals this: #1, that we are not to despise it, or be discouraged by it, according to verse 5. When a parent disciplines their child, is it evil or wrong? Why would a parent discipline his son (or daughter)? To correct aberrant beliefs or behavior. That which offends must be done away with, to conform us to the image of God’s Son. Chastening is the tool God has employed since the beginning, as Solomon warned his own son. If God were silent about His children’s conduct, He would appear to be implicitly approving it, which a holy God will not do. Sometimes God will chasten through the cause and effect decision-making naturally creates. Divine interposition may also occur, as God desires. We are to acknowledge this chastening, not as evil, but as God’s provisional care while we are on this earth and not yet perfected. God permits the hedge to lower for trials to strengthen our faith and purge us of our sinful conduct that we refuse to relinquish. Other times we wander out from behind that hedge of our own accord, and suffer the consequences that naturally result. In either case, we are told not to despise God’s chastening, nor be discouraged by its result. The result’s primary function isn’t meant to be injurious. It is to strengthen us for the trials ahead, that we, by our chaste conduct, may glorify God rather than indulge the flesh while we sojourn on this earth.

 

#2, God loves those He chastens, and scourging (punishing) is an indication, not of expulsion, but acceptance, as stated in verse 6. Referring to child care one more time, what parent, thoughtful of their child’s welfare, would permit them to indulge in reckless or destructive behavior that could result in their ruin? Love acts; apathy accepts under the false guise of love. Love acts to its hurt when there is no reciprocation. David wrote of the man who may dwell on God’s holy hill, “He swears to his own hurt and does not change,” Psalm 15:4. The HCSB translates this portion, “who keeps his word whatever the cost.” God does not change; He is a perfect parent, who warns of sin’s power and influence, and will discipline His children accordingly, for their benefit. Those trained by Him will be like Him; in fact we will read a little later that discipline is for the sake of training us to obey from the heart, Hebrew 12:11. Is this our depiction of the Christian faith?

 

Jesus cautioned about the danger of untested faith, saying, “yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles,” Matthew 13:21. Faith is the chain that connects the believer to God. It anchors us to the object in which we believe. An untethered faith is an unreal one, and the slightest foul wind will serve to drive us from the port we only pretended to be sheltering in. The apostles rejoiced when they suffered for His name, Acts 5:41. Not that they desired to suffer, but their suffering indicated that they were in His will, being used by the Lord, and refined for future and higher service. Opposition from Satan and the world comes, and God, who alone is wise, makes His children ready with methods of His own election. But this is borne of love, for our improvement. It is not designed to elicit despair or hatred. May we all, with one accord, accept the Father’s perfect will for us in Christ Jesus, and submit to His chastening.