THE PROMISE. Hebrews 10:37-39 The promise of the Lord’s return to establish His millennial kingdom as the King of kings seated on the throne of David is a theme throughout Hebrews. “He that shall come” is the Lord Jesus Christ, for whom believers wait. The rapture (catching up) of the church is the first part of His coming. After the tribulation, there will be “the appearing of the Lord in glory” to take His place as the universal authority, ruling from the capital city, Jerusalem.
There is no question about whether this will happen. A promise has been made: “He that shall come, will come.” There is no uncertainty about that promise. Christians should watch, remain, and be ready for that event, which will take place at any time. The Lord hasn’t delayed His coming, as the wicked men said in the parable Jesus gave. God’s plans are known to Him alone. His plans for us now are that we be faithful in the work He has given us to do.
Those who are just (righteous) continue living by faith despite all the distractions around us, because our trust is in the Living God, who has given us His word and His promises. We are not to allow fear to make us shrink back from the life of faith we are called to live. Even though we have not seen our Lord face to face, we live by faith in Him with full confidence. To draw back for any reason (doubt, fear, weariness, false influences, or neglect) is a disappointment to the One who has cleansed us from dead works to serve Him with our hearts, minds, will, and strength.
It is essential that we continue to progress in full assurance of faith, living by faith, persevering in faith, following our Lord, and committing ourselves to Him without reservation. “He who will save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s, shall save it.” The convictions the Hebrew believers had when they first trusted in Christ were true faith produced by the Holy Spirit and the word. Now, they were called to show themselves as true believers by their lives and witness, which were being compromised by the trials of faith they were not facing in the right way.
"Believe" is not a one-time thing because to keep believing is to reach the goal of salvation. This separates real believers from apostates. We separate from those who draw back from faith in Christ alone. Apostates are not true believers. True believers go ahead in faith. The life of a believer is one that "lives by faith." This leads us to the challenge of remembering those in the hall of faith in the account of chapter eleven.
We need to persevere in faith and conduct when facing pressure and persecution. Suffering can build both our character and patience. In great stress, we may feel our need for God more keenly. The Bible presents a clear choice between two directions in life. Take the high road, even though it looks more difficult and treacherous. That road gets steep in places and takes a toll on our energy. It gets lonely. It may not seem like many are on it, but there are more than you imagined. Some are there because of your example. The high road can be slippery, but go for the high peaks of life's experience. God has a lifeline around you.
When you are tempted to falter in your faith, turn aside to something easier, or stop going ahead, keep focused on what God has done for you in the past and what He offers in the future, and keep on climbing. For the time being, those believers needed patient endurance and to hold firm to the faith they professed. The Lord Jesus gives us that perseverance in persecution, in trials, and when pressured by the false premises of fair-weather Christians. This isn't about salvation, but it is evidence of our commitment to Christ.