Today’s Word

My Supernatural Experience with
The Book of Hebrews

No other book in the Bible focuses as much on one particular subject than the Book of Hebrews.  Great truths are expounded on throughout the Bible: love, faith, righteousness, grace, the cross, the resurrection, etc. All of those subjects and many more are major points of the New Testament.  Still, no single writer gave such intense coverage of one single truth as the writer of Hebrews.  The inspired and insightful focus is on Jesus’ present day ministry as our High Priest. 
Of all the books of the Bible however, the Book of Hebrews is probably the most neglected and least studied by Christians.  I suggest this is proved by the fact that most Christians remain focused more on Jesus’ past ministry (on the cross) than on His present ministry. 
Let me share how God initially got my attention on the Book of Hebrews.   Most of you are familiar with my testimony.  When I was eighteen, my mother was diagnosed with kidney cancer.  She was rushed to the hospital for surgery.  That day I knelt down in a small bathroom and called on Jesus, begging God to take my life instead of hers.  I didn’t know anything about God, but I pleaded with my whole heart.  At that moment I was Born Again as God’s “peace that passes all understanding” consumed me.  I didn’t know anything about God or His word.  Not one Bible term was familiar to me, including the New Birth.  But at that moment I knew God was real, that He heard my prayer and that He would spare my mother.  He did!  
Not knowing anything about God, how to be continually reinforced with His presence, or the importance of learning the Bible and fellowshipping with other true believer, my conversion didn’t stick.  I recall saying at that time “How long will I live for God - two weeks?  But I gave it my all, bringing every thought to God.  But exactly as I stated, in two weeks I gave out.  Overwhelmed with guilt I assessed I was to far gone for God to care about and for the next seven years threw caution to the wind. 
From that time I would say something new in conversation.  Usually spontaneously, flippantly and with no reasoned purpose I’d say; “I am going to die before my twenty-fifth birthday.”  People would roll their eyes or say I was a nut, but seven years later, two weeks before my birthday, I expected to die by some tragedy. 
To make the testimony brief, I did die that night, but not as I expected.  I died to myself as God soon explained to me. 
One night, directed to watch a Christian program, through divine providence and the power of the Holy Spirit my most intimate thoughts were exposed and God gloriously touched me anew.  God rescued me that second time and the experience was exactly as before; that inward “peace” and “knowledge of God” came to me just as the first time. 
People often think of the New Birth as a one time thing, but there are also fresh, deeper conversions to God throughout our life if we will let God lead us.  Consider for instance, Simon Peter.  He was a converted believer to Christ when the Lord said this to him.  
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) 
Anyway, that night I received my call into the ministry.  By that time things from the Bible were familiar to me; having one Christian friend who was trying to explain things to me.  But up to that night, every time I tried to read the Bible on my own I could not comprehend things.  Trust me, I was trying to understand, and it would frustrate me, because by this time I truly believed the Bible was God’s Word.  Just a year before, I was in a bar, dead drunk and got into an argument with a guy who said the Bible was nonsense.  I flattened him, shouting, “I may not know the Bible and certainly don’t live it, but I’ll defend it as God’s Word”.
Among the many miracles that happened to me that night was this particular event.  Picking up the Bible I randomly opened it and began to read.  I seemed to be raining however, as I needed to wipe wet drops from the page.  Suddenly I realized it was my tears dropping forced to flow as I was moved by reading the most personal and tender love letter - from God to me. 
Coming out of my haze I looked and saw that I was reading (and understanding things) from the Book of Hebrews.  When we are cleansed and open to Jesus He reveals the scriptures to us.
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45)
               
Over the years the Book of Hebrews has been a valuable study for me.  However, it was not until this new phase in my walk that I see things so much clearer.  I’m convinced, that night, the Lord knew where I would be years later in my life and accentuated this epistle as one I would desperately need to comprehend.  It is now my conviction that God has opened up my understanding on this book to share God’s powerful and Present Day Ministry as our faithful and mighty High Priest.