Church family, I want you to imagine standing at the foot of two mountains. One mountain is shrouded in darkness, smoking with fire, echoing with the sound of thunder. The other mountain is bathed in light, filled with celebration, where angels sing and the righteous have gathered. Today, the writer of Hebrews presents us with this very choice – two mountains that represent two different ways of approaching God.
Our ancestors knew something about mountains. They knew about the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments – Mount Sinai, covered in smoke and fire. But they also sang about another mountain: "I'm gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside... ain't gonna study war no more." They understood that God had prepared a better mountain, a mountain of peace and grace.
The Mountain of Fear (Verses 18-21)
The writer begins by reminding us what we have NOT come to: "For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them."
Let me paint you a picture of Mount Sinai. Picture Moses leading the children of Israel through the wilderness after 400 years of bondage in Egypt. They've been delivered from Pharaoh's army, they've walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, and now they find themselves at the foot of this mountain that's on fire.
The mountain is smoking like a furnace. Thunder crashes overhead. Lightning splits the sky. A trumpet blast – not the sweet sound of Gabriel's horn we sing about, but a sound so terrifying that the people begged Moses, "Don't let God speak to us directly anymore! We can't handle it!"
Even Moses, the great deliverer, was trembling with fear. This was the mountain of the law, where God gave the commandments written in stone. But stone is cold. Stone is hard. Stone breaks when it falls.
Our ancestors in the faith understood this mountain well. They lived under systems that operated by fear – the overseer's whip, the master's rules, the segregationist's threats. They knew what it meant to live under a system where one mistake could cost you everything, where the rules were clear but mercy was scarce.
The Mountain of Grace (Verses 22-24)
But church, listen to what the writer says next: "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven."
What a difference! Instead of darkness, there's light. Instead of terror, there's joy. Instead of a voice that threatens, there's celebration. This is Mount Zion – not the physical mountain in Jerusalem, but the spiritual mountain where God dwells with His people in grace and love.
Let me tell you about Mount Zion. This is where David brought the ark of the covenant. This is where Solomon built the temple. This is where the people came to worship and find forgiveness. But the writer of Hebrews is talking about something even greater – the heavenly Mount Zion, where Christ reigns as our eternal High Priest.
Notice who's gathered on this mountain:
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Thousands of angels in joyful assembly – not terrifying, but celebrating
-The church of the firstborn – that's us, church! We who have been adopted as God's children
-The spirits of the righteous made perfect – the saints who have gone before us
* Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant – our advocate, our Savior, our friend
This mountain doesn't operate by the old rules. This mountain operates by grace. On Mount Sinai, the blood of bulls and goats covered sin temporarily. But on Mount Zion, we have "the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."
Abel's blood cried out for vengeance, but Jesus' blood cries out for mercy! Abel's blood demanded justice, but Jesus' blood declares "It is finished!" Abel's blood said "Someone must pay," but Jesus' blood says "The price has been paid!"
III. The Choice We Must Make (Verses 25-29)
Now church, the writer gives us a solemn warning: "See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?"
We have a choice to make. We can choose to live on the mountain of fear, where we're always wondering if we've done enough, always worried about God's judgment, always trying to earn our way into heaven through our own works. Or we can choose to live on the mountain of grace, where we know we're accepted in the beloved, where we're confident of our salvation, where we approach God not as frightened servants but as beloved children.
Some of you are still living on Mount Sinai. You're still trying to follow every rule perfectly. You're still living in fear that God might reject you if you make a mistake. You're still carrying the burden of trying to be good enough for God.
But Jesus is calling you to Mount Zion! He's saying, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." He's saying, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The writer reminds us that both mountains involve a voice from God. But there's a difference:
-The voice from Mount Sinai shook the earth
-The voice from Mount Zion will shake both heaven and earth
When Jesus comes again, everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Everything temporary will be removed. Only what's eternal will remain. The question is: what mountain will you be standing on when the shaking comes?
IV. Living as Mount Zion People
So how do we live as people of Mount Zion? How do we live in grace rather than fear?
First, we worship with reverence and awe. The writer says, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." Our worship isn't driven by fear but by gratitude. We don't come to church because we have to; we come because we want to. We don't praise God to earn His favor; we praise Him because He's already shown us favor in Christ.
Second, we approach God with confidence. Hebrews 4:16 tells us to "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." We don't crawl into God's presence; we walk boldly. We don't beg for scraps; we come as children to our Father's table.
Third, we extend grace to others. If we're living on Mount Zion, we can't treat others as if they're still on Mount Sinai. We can't extend grace to ourselves while demanding perfection from everyone else. The same mercy that saved us should flow through us to others.
Conclusion: Which Mountain Will You Choose?
Church family, I close where I began. You're standing at the foot of two mountains. One represents the old covenant of law, fear, and condemnation. The other represents the new covenant of grace, love, and acceptance.
Our ancestors made their choice. They chose to believe in a God of liberation rather than oppression. They chose to sing about a God who sets the captives free rather than one who keeps them bound. They chose Mount Zion.
Some of you came in here today carrying the weight of Mount Sinai – guilt, shame, fear, the burden of trying to be perfect. But Jesus is calling you to Mount Zion. He's calling you to lay down those burdens and take up His easy yoke.
The choice is yours. But remember, our God is a consuming fire – not a fire that destroys those who come to Mount Zion, but a fire that burns away everything that doesn't belong, everything that keeps us from experiencing His perfect love.
Which mountain will you choose? The mountain where perfect love drives out fear? The mountain where mercy triumphs over judgment? The mountain where grace reigns supreme?
I pray you'll choose Mount Zion. I pray you'll choose grace. I pray you'll choose Jesus.
Closing Prayer: Lord, we thank You that You have not left us on Mount Sinai, trembling in fear. You have brought us to Mount Zion, where we can approach You with confidence through Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to live as people of grace, extending to others the same mercy You have shown to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:28-29
