Playing the Game (10:18-39)

Imagine being invited to play a game without being told where it is played, whether on land or in the water, nor what its aims are, and without having the rules explained.  How would we be prepared to play?  How would we dress?  What equipment would we need?  Do we have opponents?  Is it a team game?

When it comes to being fit for the Kingdom, it is necessary to know that there are some “rules of play”.  We might say that they constitute the believer’s position.

We need to have a confidence in our position.  We need to be assured that, as believers, we have an open heaven: the veil is torn and we have full access to an open heaven (Lk.23:45).  We can have full confidence because of all that Christ has done and is (cf. 4:16).  Like Paul we can state with conviction that, “I know whom I have believed” (2Tim.1:12).  Most of all, this revelation is not something that is just academic, the blood of Jesus makes it personal (cf. 2:11).

Apart from knowing our position, we need to play to win.  Seeing as we are good Christians, we don’t cheat, and we play according to the rules.  There are three main rules to playing the game which are wonderfully expanded through the rest of the letter, but are summarised in this portion as a precursor of what is to come.  These rules are nothing less than the measure of a church: faith, hope and love.  Faith (10:22) has to do with the open heaven; it is expounded in ch.11.  Hope (10:23) has to do with our confidence and is confirmed in the persevering section of ch.12.  Love (10:24), and its practical and personal outworking, is revealed in ch.13.

“Let us draw near” (10:22).  Faith is our individual responsibility.  We draw near to God through prayer, with a true and sincere heart, without deceit, honest, genuine and committed, in full assurance, knowing that there is no reason why our access to God will be denied.  Our great High Priest never loses sight of those who belong to the household of God (cf. Jn.6:39).  If we fully accept the Gospel, then we can have complete confidence, confessing it boldly and showing courage toward man.  We draw near with our hearts sprinkled, having our inner attitudes and consciences cleansed, and with our “bodies” - our outward acts - washed.

“Let us hold fast” (10:23).  Hope is made known by professing and is based on the faithfulness of God, not on our own strength.  Our hope must be actualised.  It relies on faith, and looks to the future, with a confident expectation that Christ will fulfill all His promises in us.

“Let us consider” (10:24).  Love is a social responsibility that we put into practice.  Although something more than individual effort is needed; in fact, communal action is vital.  As Paul reminds us, loving one another is a continuing debt (Rom.13:8); loving doesn’t just happen, it needs to be stirred up!  Love isn’t always a silent thing, something we do whilst sitting on the sofa at home, feeling all warm and fuzzy.  No, the scriptures tell us that it is love and good works: we need practical outcomes of works that are visibly noble (cf. 1Pet.2:12).

Just as important as it is to know our position in the game, and to know the rules, it is also necessary to know the playing infringements.  Most games have offside rules, and rules for fouls.  To be fit for the Kingdom we need to know some of the ways we can infringe during play.

“Let us…not forsake” (10:25).  Faith, hope and love are worked out in gathering together as believers.  It is that simple.  Attendance at gatherings of the church is a visible and demonstrative expression of a love for Jesus.  Really…how can we say that we love Jesus but have no regard for His Body?!  Sometimes we forget the revelation that when we gather Jesus is present.  And He desires our presence!  The writer is not trying to manipulate people to maintain numbers in his church - there is a grim warning here, that if we abandon gathering, sin is not far behind, and its end result is the dreadful prospect of falling into “the hands of the living God” (10:31).

To avoid the infringing, being fit for the Kingdom means that we need to pay attention.  We must pay attention to the knowledge of the truth (10:26), to God’s judgement (10:27), and to the days of enlightenment (10:32).  If we pay attention we will not spurn the Son of God, nor profane His work and thereby outrage the Spirit of grace (10:29).

We stand together before an open heaven, confident in the finished work of Jesus Christ for each of us (10:34-39).  He enables us to play the game - to know the game we play and to play by the rules.  We must remain true to our confession, demonstrating our love, as we seek the fellowship of the saints.