Read Hebrews 12:18-29

“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.” (Hebrews 12:28)

The whole sum of this chapter of Hebrews is about the journey of the Christian life. It starts with the race of endurance (see Hebrews 12:1-2), then onto the discipline of training (see Hebrews 12:3-11). Then it culminates in the strengthening of our faith and the healing of our weaknesses (see Hebrews 12:12-17). All of this speaks to the author’s final point — in Christ, we have arrived at Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, (see Hebrews 12:22) and are now “receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken.”

Think on that for a moment. An Unshakeable Kingdom. This is the promise that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ.

To fully appreciate all that this verse conveys, we must first understand the word unshakeable. This word is not a common word, used only twice in the entire New Testament. The first time we see this word is in the Book of Acts in the literal sense. Paul the Apostle was on a ship heading to Rome during his imprisonment, when suddenly, the ship was caught in a great storm which nearly sunk.

But by God's grace, the ship was aggressively halted as it ran aground on the Island of Malta. And it is here, that the author Luke says, “the front of the ship stuck fast and remained immoveable [that is, unshakable], but the back of the ship was being broken up by the violence of the waves." (see Acts 27:39-44) What a contrast! One part of the ship was immoveable, while the other part of the ship was being torn to pieces.

From this, we can rightly say that the Kingdom of Christ — the Kingdom we now belong to — is immoveable and indestructible! The aggression of other forces will never bring it down. Not even hell itself!

The prophet Daniel spoke of this kingdom when interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream —

“…The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all [other] kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44)

Furthermore, Jesus proclaimed to Peter after his great confession —

“…On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Do you believe this, church? Do you trust the words of Christ and the inspired words of the Holy Spirit that you have entered a Kingdom which cannot be overthrown? We must therefore live by this great truth! And the author of Hebrews declares on this truth: Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28)

Did you catch that? Our God and King desires that we, His people, serve Him in this Unshakeable Kingdom with grace, with reverence and with godly fear. If the kings of this broken world have even a small token of our reverence, how much more should the King of kings have from us in His Eternal, Immoveable and Indestructible Kingdom?

As you go out today, remember that you are not of this world, but are of the Kingdom not made with hands. You can take joy that you are living in this wonderful heavenly realm.

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all…” (Hebrews 12:22–23)

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