Heb. 12:18-19

18 For [gar] ye are [proserchomai] not [ou] come [proserchomai] unto the mount [oros] that might be touched [pselaphao], and [kai] that burned [kaio] with fire [pur], nor [kai] unto blackness [gnophos], and [kai] darkness [skotos], and [kai] tempest [thuella],

19 And [kai] the sound [echos] of a trumpet [salpigx], and [kai] the voice [phone] of words [rhema]; which [hos] voice they that heard [akouo] intreated [paraiteomai] that the word [logos] should [prostithemi] not [me] be spoken [prostithemi] to them [autos] any more [me]: KJV-Interlinear

18 For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 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 should be spoken to them. NASB

Indifference, apathy, negative attitudes and such can certainly keep a person from Christ, but also, criticism, ridicule, ostracism, and such can keep a person from pursuing their spiritual life in Christ, too. Fear is typically the ingredient that brings out this last set of barriers (criticism, ridicule, ostracism, etc.). The fear of what people or society can do to you.

Most people have heard of the two mountains, Sinai and Zion, but most people have never understood what they represented. Mt. Sinai is always related to Moses and the ten commandments, and Mt. Zion is generally tagged with a Jewish connotation of some kind, and both concepts really miss the mark by a long way.

These are the two mountains in scripture. The first, Mt. Sinai, should be associated with the law, or the old covenant, and a with the terrible fear of judgment from God. The second, mount Zion, should be associated as the new covenant and the work of Christ on the Cross.

The law, sometimes referred to as the Mosaic law or the Levitical law, speaks to the moral corruption, degradation, or what is generally referred to as the depravity of man. Anyone who pursues their salvation or a relationship with God by means of the law (works) is in fact pursuing certain failure and Gods judgment.

Anyone who pursues salvation or a relationship with God through the work of Christ (faith), which is a reference to Mt. Zion, is in fact pursuing certain success and phenomenal blessings from God.

Mt. Sinai refers to works and mans attempts to approach God through mans own effort, while Mt. Zion refers to grace and mans approach to God through Christ by faith, and mans advance to spiritual maturity through doctrine.

Mt. Sinai is associated with the old covenant and the intense fear that should be and is, associated with Gods certain judgment. Mt. Zion is associated with the new covenant of Christ, and certain success and happiness

through faith.

Anyone who attempted to approach, to touch, or to climb Mt. Sinai, would be met with certain an instantaneous death. This is the result of every human effort to approach God apart from Gods will. So, every religion, every philosophy, every belief that excludes the principles taught in the scriptures, is in effect nothing more than an attempt to climb Mt. Sinai.

By approaching God through Christ, and by approaching ones spiritual life through doctrine, then you are not approaching a mountain of fire, darkness, and gloom. By approaching God through faith, you are not approaching God through the energy of your own works, but are climbing Mt. Zion (doctrine) through faith based on the work of Christ.

When Christ went to the cross, He was judged for the sins of the entire human race, both believer and unbeliever alike. When the final judgment day comes, unbelievers will not be judged based on their sins, but rather they will be judged on the basis of their works, because their works are insufficient to get them into heaven. Since they have rejected Christ s works, then all they have to rely on is their own effort. And mans own effort is not enough to save him.

Heb. 10:31

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NASB

Rev. 20:12

12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. NASB

Rev. 20:13-15

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. NASB

God gave the Israelites a powerful demonstration of lightning and thunder, and fire, and sound which literally terrified them to such a point that they pleaded with Moses to have it all stopped. Even Moses as great as he was, stated that he himself was extremely terrified by Gods demonstration.

Such is the nature of Gods message to us. We either get with a program of a daily Bible study and realize the tremendous things that are a stake for our future, or we ignore it all and face the loss of a tremendous future.

Do not be fooled by Hollywood movies, or politics, or contemporary beliefs. Life is not going to continue endlessly such that man will one day rule the stars and galaxies. One day history is going to end. And that day is probably closer than we all realize. It could be within hours, or even decades away. But regardless of when history will end according to Gods schedule, it will end. And there s nothing that any of us can do about it.

The fear principle taught in the old testament was intended to keep people on the straight and narrow so that they will succeed in life and not lose out because of sin or negative attitudes. That principle still holds.

The faith principle which we have been studying recently serves to reinforce the fear principle. Demonstrating that what the scriptures have to offer is infinitely superior, and more valuable, than anything and everything that this world has to offer.

Now is the time to post a prayer.