1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2)
It’s that time of year again—the time of the Fall Feasts—and I have undertaken a deep dive into the book of Hebrews. What an amazing book! Yesterday was Yom Teruah, and starting the season with a study of the first few chapters of that book didn’t disappoint. I’ve written a little about the Fall Feasts in prior posts (this one, in particular), and I won’t spend a lot of time further elaborating on the symbolism found in them, but I did feel impressed to mention a few points about this idea of “giving heed” to things found in the verses above.
God is constantly trying to introduce ideas to us. We are, at all times, immersed in light. Most people just don’t comprehend it. They don’t take it in, which is what “comprehend” literally means. Why don’t they? Because they don’t make any extra effort to notice it, much less give heed to it. “To heed” is “to mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe.” It’s not accidental. It’s intentional. It entails an active search for and integration of light and truth.
Symbolism is layered, and it can mean different things to different people based on the layer they are prepared to understand and/of to which they are paying attention. Overall, that comes with some downsides, but the pros far outweigh the cons for honest seekers of truth. Never be satisfied with your current understanding of things. If you keep your aim focused on Christ, he will always give you the next increment of light and truth towards a deeper understanding of him, and you should always receive it with gladness.
As God gives you ideas, show him that they are valuable to you by expressing them in a physically tangible way. I don’t even mean electronically or on paper, though you can and should because there are definitely benefits to doing that. More importantly, you should write things in your heart and mind (see Luke 2:19), and there are spiritual practices that can help you do this, such as pondering, prayer, meditation, and goal-setting in making a way to practically implement those ideas into your life. As you adhere to the things God teaches you, and as you increase your understanding of him by building upon the things he teaches you, you will accumulate a body of evidence of his goodness towards you that is just as sure as the collection of items kept in the Ark of the Covenant. If not, more so.
Giving “the more earnest heed” is key to our “escape” and “salvation.” In his mercy, God has given us the Fall Feasts and so many other things to help draw our attention to aspects of reality that would otherwise go unnoticed by us. Studying them with the intent to interpret symbolism and to recognize patterns and principles is a very fruitful undertaking.