The modern way the majority approaches God is baffling. The relaxed consideration of the Creator brings Him down from His lofty throne to dwell among the common and mundane of this life. God is no more than a friend to most. He is not considered with the reverence which is due His holy name. Jesus gave the example of addressing Him as One who is hallowed (cf. Matthew 6:9). Yet, the world speaks of Him as One who is ordinary. It is a cardinal offense to approach God in this way.

The misunderstanding of God’s grace has planted the seed of irreverence in the hearts of men. There is an erroneous view of the abolition of the Old Testament which does not simply consider the change in covenants, but suggests a change in the God who has made them. The God of the Old Testament is angry, unforgiving, unloving, hard, and ungracious. While the God of the New Testament is happy-go-lucky, lenient, wholly love, and full of unconditional grace. For this reason, men assume He can be treated as a buddy. He does not care how you live your life, so long as you verbally declare your love for Him. Sin is no longer a big deal, but something that God simply shrugs off. Those who consider God in this way need to wake up to reality before it is everlastingly too late.

In his eloquent effort to influence Jewish Christians toward steadfast faith in Jesus, the Hebrew writer expounded upon the wonderful grace offered and enjoyed under the New Covenant. He did this by following his pattern of contrasting the Old and the New. In the latter part of chapter 12, he considered the approach taken to two mountains:

“For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: ‘And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.’ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.’)” (Hebrews 12:18-21)

The Israelites were conflicted under the Old Testament with the impossible requirement of perfection. Approaching a just God with the knowledge of sin weighing on the conscience was a terror. Mount Sinai illustrated this point. The scene of the giving of the Law had a palpable sense of God’s overwhelming glory, holiness, justice, and wrath. Fire scorched, darkness enveloped, wind wailed, trumpets sounded, and “the voice of words” which could stop a heart was heard. Even the lauded Law giver trembled in fear. The reality of the Old Testament was a vast canyon between sinful man, and holy God. Only Jesus could bridge the gap.

“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, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22-24)

Christians do not approach Sinai, but Zion. It is a spiritual Mount which speaks of forgiveness of sins, justification, perfection, fellowship with God, joy, light, and a Mediator between God and man. The Old Testament placed man under a curse, and the New takes the curse away (cf. Galatians 3:10-14). The Old Testament had physical sacrifices that could never satisfy, but the New offers “the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” This is that which the Hebrews were refusing. And even though the covenant in place is one of grace and mercy, if they refused there would be dire consequences.

“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.” (Hebrews 12:25-27)

The thought that the New is more lenient than the Old is misguided. The Old Testament was filled with shadows and types. The New Testament is the figure and antitype. These things are greater, and must not be refused. While the ground does not shake with God’s presence as it did at Mount Sinai, there will be a day when everything will be utterly destroyed. In that day, God will judge. His justice will prevail. The unfaithful, the careless, the irreverent will all fall into God’s hands, and such is a terrible thing (cf. Hebrews 10:31).

“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.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

It is a wonderful thing to be recipients of God’s grace; to live under the New Testament, rather than the Old; to be able to approach God in confidence, and not trembling terror. For this we must be thankful. Yet, we must not forget the gravity that still exists with God. We must serve Him “acceptably.” That is, as He authorizes (cf. Colossians 3:17). We must approach Him “with reverence and godly fear.” Hallowed is His name. He is not our buddy. He is our God. Before the physical mountain, “the sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire…in the eyes of the children of Israel” (Exodus 24:17). Still to this day, “our God is a consuming fire.” We must remember this truth before approaching Him as if He were common.