Him who Spoke on Earth

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,
Hebrews 12:25

This verse comes across as a stern warning: "Listen to what God says." In one way this is the theme of Hebrews. The book opens with, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). It goes on to say, "For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him" (Hebrews 2:2-3).

The whole idea is that God held people accountable to listen to and obey Him in the Old Testament, whether His message came through prophets or angels. Now the stakes are much higher. God has given a new covenant, a much better deal, to the human race. Eternal life and death are at stake, so God Incarnate came Himself to present the offer. Not to listen would be a terrible mistake.

Yet millions of people rejected the message and refused Him who spoke on earth. The writer to the Hebrews was concerned about those who heard and ignored the Living Word of God while He taught on earth. Their fate was already sealed and it was too late for most of them. How much worse the judgment on those who refused the conviction of the Holy Spirit at a time when He was turning the world upside-down.

God spoke and there was the Word. To reject Him is to reject eternal life. To believe on Him is to listen to and obey Him who spoke on earth.