Universal Companionship

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect...

(Hebrews 12:22-23)

I began to peruse some of the Greek words behind these texts and I came across something very compelling. The word for general assembly literally means universal companionship. I wish that the English translators had used that phrase instead of general assembly. It denotes more of a fellowship flavor to the concept than the words general assembly. It highlights better the love-bonding that will be the trademark of the purified body of Christ in the last days and then on into eternity.

I am still comparing these concepts to the previous passage where its alters have been just presented. Last time in my post I considered Mount Zion, the city, living God and heavenly Jerusalem. These are in contrast to Mount Sinai and all the fear-based dark things presented there, in contrast to one very fiery God thundering and stirring up the dust and smoke on that desert mountain. Instead we have come to myriads of angels – un-countable numbers of messengers all committed to helping us come back into full fellowship with them and with God. They are eager to restore the universal companionship that has not been enjoyed fully since Lucifer began his program of universal disruption long ago in heaven.

This companionship is based on pure, unaffected love for others flowing out of hearts captivated by the overwhelming beauty and loveliness of God. There is absolutely no fear in this love for as John has stated so explicitly, Perfect love casts out all fear. When all fear has been eliminated from the hearts of every being in the universe, we will be able to really know this level of intimate companionship. The fear will be gone either because it has destroyed those who clung to it as a result of being exposed and resistant to God's perfect love, or because the person has embraced that love and has allowed grace to rewire their hearts and minds to survive love's intensity. That is the commission of the angels at this point – to assist God in facilitating the massive rewiring, reprogramming project going on in the hearts and minds of all who are willing to submit to the influence of the sweet Spirit of Jesus.

The church of the firstborn is an interesting phrase. The word for church really means a group of people who have been called out. In this phrase it could likely mean everyone collectively who have responded to being called by the firstborn Son of God. And the term firstborn is not really what it sounds like to our Western way of thinking. It does not refer as much to chronology as it does to the level of importance and significance. Jesus was never born as such except as being birthed as a human being. He has always existed as God and always will. But He is termed a firstborn to convey certain concepts to us that would be impossible to grasp otherwise because of our lack of capacity to understand the language and terms used in heaven.

In ancient times the firstborn son was considered not only the primary heir of the parents estate receiving twice the portion given to the rest of the children, but he was also supposed to receive and pass on to his own firstborn the blessing and authority and name of the family line. Along those lines we can perceive a little bit of what the role of Jesus is to act as the agent of transfer to pass along the blessings and empowerment of the Father to us as His children.

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Mount Zion

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:18-24)

I am eager to immerse myself in the second part of this contrast and fill my heart with the much-needed truths that can work as healing medication to dissolve away the root lies in my heart that cause bitterness in my life. In my study over the past few weeks and months in this chapter I have come to realize that the whole chapter revolves around exposing and removing these roots of bitterness. I believe that is why I was sent here in the first place and I want to cooperate with my rehabilitation program. Now I am getting to the really good stuff.

I ponder some of these words in the last few verses to see what might emerge. It is clear that Mount Zion is in direct contrast to Mount Sinai just mentioned. I look up the meanings for the word Zion and find some very interesting connotations buried deep in the roots of this word. After starting with the definition of being the mountain of Jerusalem, a permanent capital, it combines several concepts together to form an image that is very compelling. It sets a picture in the context of a parched, arid, solitary land or place and conveys the idea of a guiding pillar, a conspicuous waymark. Then it combines with that the image of a glittering sparkling from a distance coming from the eminence of a permanent leader in charge of spiritual worship and music who is set forward. All of that is bound up in this word Zion.

This brings to my mind the words of Jesus, And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. (John 12:32 NRSV) The book of Hebrews is a whole book of comparisons between the old and the new and repeatedly presents Jesus as the better alternative to any other option of religion. It will be finally discovered that it is Jesus who is the focal point of all the universe and all attention and desire, not a place or a city. These are only tangible illustrations of concepts or experiences that emanate from the heart of God.

It is only the Godhead that is truly permanent and that is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus that can be seen at a great distance like a mountain rising above the desert in which we experience intense needs for nourishment and life. It is Jesus that is the guiding waymark showing us what direction to move so as to receive life and thrive. And the closer we get to really perceiving Jesus the more sparkling and attractive we will discover Him to be. We will begin to catch the music of heaven and be filled with the spirit of hope and inspiration as our heart recognizes the source of real life for which it has longed all of our existence. This is truly amazing what can be found in just one four-letter word.

...to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly...

Again, this is in stark contrast to the previous picture of millions of terrified people cowering near the foot of Mount Sinai while a lone deity thunders impossible-sounding standards from the top of a smoking fire-engulfed mountain in the middle of a desert. The word city conveys the idea of a closely knit society of many people integrated together. Living God is in direct contrast to the god of religion itself or the many false gods that have crowded in to distract our attention. Heavenly Jerusalem is also in contrast to the obsession with earthly Jerusalem, not only in the minds of Jews everywhere but now also in the focus of many Christians who believe that God's attention is still based in physical Israel. Myriads of angels and the general assembly also convey the intense idea of togetherness and many entities joined together in focus on one, glittering center of attraction.

I will pick this up again next time I visit this passage. What is becoming clear very quickly is that the new is so far superior to the old that it must consume all of my attention the more I really begin to see it.

The old is full of fear; the new is full of joy.

The old is focused on externals without real heart-transformation; the new is eternal realities springing out of hearts full of admiration for God's beauty and deep connections with other hearts.

The old gives priority to religion and knowledge and performance; the new gives emphasis to relationships, heart-connections and focusing on God's glory.

Father, I don't know what this day is going to bring, but You already know every detail and have wonderful plans for me. There are extremely life-changing decisions being considered today by some people around me and I employ my privilege of authority under Jesus Christ to authorize You to release Your Spirit and have Your plans implemented in every life who does not clearly refuse You. I am looking forward to traveling to a very interesting place today where I hear of people who seem to have a special connection to You with their hearts more than the average Christians. I ask You to fill me with Your presence and remove all the chains of fear and inhibitions that bind my heart from enjoying Your freedom. Fill me more with Your joy and increase greatly my capacity for joy. Prepare me to enter into Your Sabbath rest this evening and fill my heart with Your presence. Glorify Your name through me today.

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