神的異象
失而復得
經文
希伯來書十二14-29
14你們要追求與眾人和睦，並要追求聖潔；非聖潔沒有人能見主。
15又要謹慎，恐怕有人失了神的恩；恐怕有毒根生出來擾亂你們，因此叫眾人沾染污穢；
16恐怕有淫亂的，有貪戀世俗如以掃的，他因一點食物把自己長子的名分賣了。
17後來想要承受父所祝的福，竟被棄絕，雖然號哭切求，卻得不著門路使他父親的心意回轉。這是你們知道的。
18你們原不是來到那能摸的山；此山有火燄、密雲、黑暗、暴風、
19角聲與說話的聲音。那些聽見這聲音的，都求不要再向他們說話；
20因為他們當不起所命他們的話，說：靠近這山的，即便是走獸，也要用石頭打死。
21所見的極其可怕，甚至摩西說：我甚是恐懼戰兢。
22你們乃是來到錫安山，永生神的城邑，就是天上的耶路撒冷。那裡有千萬的天使，
23有名錄在天上諸長子之會所共聚的總會，有審判眾人的神和被成全之義人的靈魂，
24並新約的中保耶穌，以及所灑的血；這血所說的比亞伯的血所說的更美。
25你們總要謹慎，不可棄絕那向你們說話的。因為，那些棄絕在地上警戒他們的尚且不能逃罪，何況我們違背那從天上警戒我們的呢？
26當時他的聲音震動了地，但如今他應許說：再一次我不單要震動地，還要震動天。
27這再一次的話，是指明被震動的，就是受造之物都要挪去，使那不被震動的常存。
28所以我們既得了不能震動的國，就當感恩，照神所喜悅的，用虔誠、敬畏的心事奉神。
29因為我們的神乃是烈火。
信息分享
聖經告訴我們，在以賽亞的異象中，站在寶座上的撒拉弗有六個翅膀：「用兩個翅膀遮臉，兩個翅膀遮腳，兩個翅膀飛翔」（賽六2）。為甚麼他們遮著臉？他們明顯不敢看他們敬拜的這一位。這裡的含意是我們為神所做的一切，都必須懷著敬畏的心去做。
現代基督教的其中一個悲劇是我們悄悄的、甚至是毫不察覺地失去了敬畏的精神。神聖的事物好像漸趨平凡、失去了其神聖的特性。當然，並非所有的地方都發生這種情況，但我肯定這個時代憤世嫉俗的態度正在給教會帶來許多負面的影響。如果我們不加以抗拒，那麼未來的世代難免會在千百種不同的方面嚴遭波及。
我記得年少時參加青少年基督徒營會的時候，曾經和其他人一起幽默地「取笑」天使，導致營會主任大發雷霆。他說：「你們這些年青人輕視一些十分神聖的東西。我懷疑你們對天使的職事是否還能再有正確的看法。」他說的很對，長達數十年，我的內心深處都對天使的職事甚表懷疑，直到近年來我在馬來西亞時才征服了這種懷疑的態度，因為我有機會經歷了一些可畏的超自然事件，在那以後我才確信天使的職事。那麼一次短暫的經歷徹底的挪去了幾十年來一直堵塞在我心裡的疑惑。我們實在不敢對神聖的事物失去敬畏的心。
「我們為神所做的事，必須懷著敬畏的心」
進深研究
彼前一1-17，二17；詩三十三8
1. 我們要怎樣過自己的生活？
2. 世上所有人應該怎樣做？
祈禱
神啊！求您幫助我培養出對神聖事物的尊敬和畏懼的心；不要過分也不要輕率，免得因為我的態度絆倒我身邊的人，因為那不是一種健康的表現。求您教導我懂得保持平衡。奉主耶穌的名求，阿們。
The Vision of God
Lost & found
Bible reading:
Hebrews 12:14-29
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;
19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,
20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."[a]
21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."[b]
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,
23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."[c]
27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
29 for our "God is a consuming fire."[d]
Message
We are told that the seraphs who stood above the throne in Isaiah's vision had six wings: "With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying" (Isa. 6:2). Why cover their faces? Clearly they dared not look upon this One whom they were worshipping. The implication here is that what we do for God must be done with reverence.
One of the tragedies of modern-day Christianity is that quietly and almost unnoticed we are losing the spirit of reverence. Holy things are becoming common and are losing their sacredness. This is not happening everywhere, of course, but there is no doubt in my mind that the cynicism of the age is making its impact on the Church. If we do not resist it, the generations that follow will feel its effect in a hundred different ways.
I remember, as a teenager attending a Christian youth camp and taking part along with some others in a humorous "send up" of angels. The youth director hit the roof. He said: "You young people have trivialised something that is deeply sacred. I doubt whether you will have a correct view of angelic ministry ever again." He was right. Deep within me there has been a cynicism toward the ministry of angels for several decades, and it was only quite recently, while in Malaysia, that it was overcome. I was privileged to experience some awesome supernatural encounters that convinced me of the ministry of angels. It took several decades to undo what a few flippant moments had etched into my heart and mind. We dare not lose our reverence for holy things.
"What we do for God must be done with reverence"
Prayer
O God, help me develop respect and reverence for holy things, but not to become over-spiritual about these matters and bore my friends with my solemnity and heaviness. That is not healthy either. Keep me balanced. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
1 Peter 1:1-17; 2:17
Psalm 33:8
1. How are we to live our lives?
2. What are all the people of the world to do?
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