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like Esau

Hebrews 12:7-14-17 (JDV)

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with everyone and holiness – without it, no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:15 Make sure that no one falls short of the favor of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.
Hebrews 12:16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.
Hebrews 12:17 You know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.

like Esau

This letter has encouraged Christians to stay focused on their faith in Christ and to persevere in that faith. It stops to remind its readers now of the sad fact that even among confessing Christians there will be those who fall short of God’s favor. Esau is an example. He lived his life around people of promise, but he was immoral and irreverent. He treated sacred things with contempt. Even his sorrow over the loss of his inheritance was not true repentance. The window had closed, and he remained on the outside.

Have you grown up around faith? Don’t trust in your proximity to genuine Christiani ty. Faith is not like the game of horseshoes. Close does not count. Come to Christ yourself while your opportunity for repentance is still open.