--- title: "An Unshakable Kingdom & Brotherly Love" description: "We are moving from a history of fear and trembling to an invitation into a kingdom that will never collapse. Here is how to live in the meantime." image: "" book: "Hebrews" bookId: "HEB" testament: "new" startChapter: 12 startVerse: 18 endChapter: 13 endVerse: 4 coversChapters: [12,13] aiTitle: "The Great Upgrade: Why We Are Choosing an Unshakable Future" aiDescription: "We are moving from a history of fear and trembling to an invitation into a kingdom that will never collapse. Here is how to live in the meantime." hasAiStory: true location: "Jerusalem" persons: ["Abel","God","Jesus","Moses"] hashtags: ["covenant","judgment","love","righteousness"] genre: "epistle" readingTime: 2 type: "adaptive" slug: "HEB/an-unshakable-kingdom-brotherly-love" canonicalId: "HEB.12.18-13.4" chronologicalOrder: 1747 relatedSlugs: [] prevSlug: "HEB/the-practice-of-faith" nextSlug: "HEB/christs-unchanging-nature" --- I was recently reflecting on how the old ways—marked by smoke, fire, and overwhelming terror—are officially behind us. Back then, the mere sight of the divine presence made even the strongest leaders tremble. It was a system defined by distance and the fear of getting too close to something too powerful to handle. But we are currently living in a different reality. We have been ushered into a heavenly city, a place of joyful celebration filled with spirits of the past who have finally reached their potential. We have access to the mediator of a brand-new arrangement, one defined not by the tragic blood of the past, but by a new standard that speaks of reconciliation rather than revenge. This brings us to a major alert: keep your ears open to the current signal. If there were consequences for ignoring the warnings of the past, there will certainly be even more significant fallout if we dismiss the voice coming from the heavens now. Everything that can be shaken—every temporary system, structure, or created thing—is currently being dismantled so that only what is truly permanent remains. Since we are effectively receiving a kingdom that is impossible to shake, our response should be simple: be grateful. Let that gratitude translate into a life of sincere respect and wonder. Keep in mind that the foundation we stand on is a consuming fire that clears away the debris. So, how does this look on the ground? It is time to get practical. Stay committed to loving your community. Don't be the person who shuts the door on strangers; you might be hosting a heavenly visitor without even knowing it. Keep showing up for those in cells and those facing abuse as if you were right there in the handcuffs or the suffering with them. Finally, keep your personal life and commitments honorable, especially when it comes to marriage, because the standard of integrity is higher than ever. ### An Unshakable Kingdom For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” The sight was so terrifying that even [Moses](/persons/moses) said, “I am trembling with fear.” Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living [God](/persons/god), the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to [Jesus](/persons/jesus) the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of [Abel](/persons/abel). See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. “For our God is a consuming fire.” ### Brotherly Love Continue in brotherly love. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them. Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

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