We are part of a communion we cannot see. We are a part of a body that is made up of all the redeemed throughout all the ages and we are even now at this moment in communion with all of them. Turn with me please to Hebrews Chapter 12. In Hebrews Chapter 12, we begin with verse 1:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
This great cloud of witnesses is not made up of persons we can see, but it is made up of a cloud of witnesses of persons who can see us, who know us. They, though dead, yet live. Hebrews 12 follows Hebrews 11—the recitation of this great pantheon of faith. But it doesn’t end merely with the recitation that we are to run a race with the communion of saints as the host of witnesses observing, surrounding us. But rather we go to verse 18:
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Your heart should be stirred. The blood should be coursing just a little faster. We haven’t come like the people of the old covenant to a mountain that is shaking with fire and trembling. That is a part of our story but instead we have come to Mount Zion. By God’s grace we have come to the city of the living God. We have come to a heavenly Jerusalem. We are already there. Our citizenship is already there. We are already there by God’s grace. We are already there by faith. We have come to myriads of angels. We have come to the general assembly.
