Hebrews 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Esau made a fatal error in judgment. It was not that he could not have made the right choice, but his pride and stubbornness did not allow him to see things as they truly were. That is the nature of the lost person. He or she cannot see because they refuse to see. That is the danger that confronts so many people. Many people choose rebellion over truth. They would rather allow the devil to influence them than turn to God Who is working in their hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Esau came to a place in his life that he did not even know existed. He was too careless to acknowledge the seriousness of life. He was more concerned about his stomach than about his heart. He came to a place where there was no returning. He was rejected by God. The Edomites became the enemies of Israel. Esau found no place of repentance, even though he sought it carefully with tears. He longed for that which he had deliberately rejected, and it was gone. It is a dangerous thing to fall into the hands of the living God. When a person slams that door of mercy so hard and so firmly and God leaves him there, there is no help. There is no other God and there is no other Saviour.
My friend, if you are reading this and if you have been fighting against God, why not stop now before it is too late for you? In chapter 3 we were reminded several times that to day is the day of salvation. It is not tomorrow. Don’t reject God’s offer of peace and hope and forgiveness. Turn to God in repentance now and be forgiven and saved.
In the following verses God rehearsed a part of Jewish history that the first century saints were familiar with. We can all know it because God recorded it for us. It is there for our learning. Moses was called up into Mount Sinai. God warned the people to stay away from that Mount. That Mount was a holy place because God chose to meet Moses there. God warned the people that even though they could touch that mount, they better not. At that time, Jesus Christ had not yet come. Moses was given a special privilege to talk to God in a special way. Even Aaron did not have that privilege.
Moses needed to understand the fear of the LORD. The people also needed to understand that fear. Most of the people chose to reject God. They did not like His terms. Many of them died in the wilderness due to their rejection of Him.
In verse 22 we are reminded that since the coming of Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross of Calvary, where He shed His blood and died for our sins, and then He was buried and He rose again and then ascended back up to heaven, since that time we have mount Sion. We have access to that city that Abraham looked for as a better way. The old way was right for its time, but Its time was finished.
The angels are there in that Heavenly city. Notice as well that the church is there. The “universal” church is in Heaven because all New Testament saints will be together in one place. Here we are separated by miles. There is no universal true church on this earth. The local church is visible and is accessible for all. It should be a very important place for every born again Christian. It is not perfect, but by God’s grace it will seek to glorify Him. The true local church is not seeking to be a friend of the world, but rather a friend of God. The pull of the world is real. God knows that and He warns us of that danger. Many are caught up in that pull and do not seem to realize it.
We are reminded as well that God is the Judge of all. There is that need to walk in the fear of the LORD now just as at any other time. When a true child of God grows in Him, he or she gains a greater appreciation for the greatness of the true God.
I was speaking with a man recently who talked of his desire to know a God Who was far, far greater than anything or anyone else. He talked of knowing this God. The true God is greater than all things. He is the Creator of all things. Of course that would make Him bigger and better than all things. Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead and He is the Creator of all things and in the book of Hebrews we are often reminded that He is better than all things.
In verse 24 we are reminded that He is the Mediator of the new covenant. The blood of bulls and goats that was very important and necessary in Old Testament times has been done away with through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood is better than that of Abel. Abel was a righteous man. However, he needed to offer a blood sacrifice to God. Jesus Christ offered His own precious and spotless blood to His Father. His Father accepted that blood because It was pure and without sin. We need not look for anyone else to save us. There never will be anyone else. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of mankind.
Notice that His blood is in Heaven with God the Father. Jesus Christ took His blood to His Father and sprinkled It on the Mercy Seat in Heaven. It did not rot into the ground outside Jerusalem. It is far too precious for that. The rains did not dilute It. It is preserved in Heaven. It is constantly before the Father.
What a blessing it is to know the forgiveness of sins through that precious blood. It has been applied on that Mercy Seat in Heaven. Those who get saved are saved through that precious blood. In the Lord’s Supper we are told to take the grape juice as a reminder of that precious blood. The grape juice cannot save us. It is just a reminder of that precious blood. God warns of those who would partake of that Supper unworthily. The only way we can be worthy is through a humble and faithful walk with God as His child. Heaven is the home of all those who are saved. There will be a great gathering in Heaven in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you be there?
Pastor Bartel