Running to heaven by grace given from heaven

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, This and the next three verses serve as a contrast to Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the first and old covenant. Since we have been thinking about running a race, we might think of it this way. Before Jesus came, the finish line to which all were running was on Mt. Sinai and the course they were running was the Law. The old covenant came from Mt. Sinai and the Law. Now, since Jesus came, the course is Jesus, Himself, and the finish line is heaven. The new covenant comes from heaven.  The earthly Mt. Zion was the mountain upon which Abraham offered the ram in place of Isaac. It was where Jacob had the dream of stairs to heaven. The city of David was established there. David purchased the threshing floor of Onan to atone for his sin on Mt. Zion. Solomon’s temple was built on Mt. Zion. However, in this verse, we learn that Mt. Zion has a symbolic meaning. It signifies the place where God’s presence is manifested. To the Hebrews, Zion is the place of salvation. Therefore, it is synonymous with the city of the living God (remember, Jesus was the promised King from David’s line), the millennial Jerusalem, and the heavenly Jerusalem, home to myriads of angels. Notice how Psalm 50:1-2 speaks of the Lord’s presence and His word going forth to all the earth. “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.”  The author was focusing on the finish line for us who are running the race. He was giving his readers encouragement to run with endurance. The reward is great to those who run well and endure to the end. In essence, we are looking at this great salvation that Jesus has given to all who believe. In this verse, we are encouraged to live to love with Jesus until we die or Jesus returns by considering our destination, our finish line. We are running to heaven, from which our salvation comes through Jesus Christ. When we draw near to the throne of grace, we are abiding in Christ. We are drawing near to God’s throne in heaven for grace to run the race to the end. It’s where God speaks and shines forth in all His beauty. He is the mighty One.  In Jonathan Edward’s treatise on the loveliness of heaven, Heaven, a World of Love, he wrote, “Heaven is the palace or presence-chamber of the high and holy One, whose name is love, and who is both the cause and source of all holy love. And this renders heaven a world of love; for God is the fountain of love, as the sun is the fountain of light. And therefore the glorious presence of God in heaven, fills heaven with love, as the sun, placed in the midst of the visible heavens in a clear day, fills the world with light.” I think you get the point. We are in a full run toward the presence of God, who is love. Now, that love is a failing love. It isn’t perfected, but we are running to a city, a country where we are from, that is all love. Therefore, let loving with Jesus be our course. Stay on course by abiding in Jesus, drawing near to His throne in heaven for grace to endure. We are running to heaven by the grace given us from heaven.