No Escape
One of my favorite shows growing up was “Hogan’s Heroes.” A comedy set at the fictional Stalag 13 (although there was an actual Stalag Luft XIII-B), a prisoner-of-war camp for captured Allied airmen located north of the town of Hammelburg, Germany during WWII. The camp is actually a base of operations for Allied espionage and sabotage against Nazi Germany, as well as an underground operation to aid POW’s from other camps and defectors to escape Germany. All of this is carried out under the incompetent nose of the Kommandant Colonel Wilhelm Klink and his buffoon of a Master Sergeant Hans Georg Schultz. In the show, despite their ability to come and go, seemingly as they please (as well as their ability to get others out of the country), the POW’s of Stalag 13 never leave. This helps keep the incompetent Klink in charge as he boasts that, “There has never been a successful escape from Stalag 13!”
In Hebrews 2:3–4 the inspired writer asks the rhetorical question, “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, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” In order to answer this question we must first consider just what it is that makes the salvation of God great so great. The salvation of God is great…
- In Its Conception: Only the infinite mind of God could conceive of such a beautiful and sacrificial plan. Knowing the certainty of man’s sin, and the horrible results of them, God, from before the creation of the world (Romans 3:23–26; Ephesians 1:3–4; Acts 2:23), planned, out of His great love for mankind (John 3:16) to send His Son and redeem us.
- In Its Results: What resulted was freedom from sin, freedom from death, and the promise and hope of eternal life in Heaven with Him. A life free from the controls of Satan and wickedness and a life free to love and serve God and others.
- In The Price Paid For it: Jesus told His disciples, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). In John 10:18 He said of His life, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” In 1 John 3:16 we are reminded, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.” Friends we are “bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
If those living in the dark days before Christ will be punished for their transgressions against God, how much more may we expect to be who live in the light of the Christian Age? Those who have heard and experienced the blessing of Christ as well as those who count the blood of Christ as something to be despised will certainly receive a greater condemnation (Hebrews 10:29). The fact is we today live under a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6). Remember the words of Jesus, how He said, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48).
There’s no need to worry if we heed the Word of the Lord, place our faith, trust and obedience in Him and live faithful lives of service and example. Otherwise, there is indeed no escape from the wrath of God. Those who have obeyed and are faithful are able to live fearless lives! Be faithful!