Uncertainty
By Dr. Roger Vogel

One of the words we hear often in the media and in society today is “uncertainty.”  We are told that there are uncertainties about economic issues, job security, social security, the banking industry, the climate, and the threat of terrorism.  How much truth is in these messages of uncertainty is not the point of this article.  The fact is, we live with much uncertainty today, real or perceived.
  
As is always true, the Word of God addresses the deepest needs of mankind.  Note briefly with me a passage that addresses this issue of uncertainty.  Hebrews 12:25-29 “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
           
1. Vs. 25 – The warning, do not refuse Him who speaks.  Uncertainty should drive us back to the Word of God.  He cites those who heard God speak on earth (Mt. Sinai) but    refused Him even though He shook the earth (vs. 26a).
            2. Vs. 26b-27 – The warning about the future is based on what He did in the past.  He will shake everything material (things that are made) into nothingness!
            3. Vs. 28 – In view of the uncertainty of the material world, the believer in Jesus Christ has the assurance of an unshakable kingdom.
   God continues to demonstrate to us just how uncertain this material universe is.  Earthquakes continue to shake and destroy parts of civilization.  One little puff of a volcano shuts down European air travel for days. 
   According to our passage, what should be our response to the uncertainties of this life?
           
1. Do not refuse God’s message to us.  What is His message to us today?  “God…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).  What is His message to us through Jesus Christ?  Jesus summarized it in John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
            2. To those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, He says, “Let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (vs. 28).  We can do so because we know we have received an eternal and unshakable kingdom!

   Each of us needs to heed one of these two admonitions in light of the uncertainties all around us.