Spurgeon Morning and Evening June 22 PM

Biblical Context

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were going through a tough time. They faced persecution and may have been tempted to go back to the familiar rituals of Judaism. The writer, whose identity isn’t clear, wants to show them that Jesus Christ is far better than anything from the Old Covenant. He is greater than angels, Moses, and the old priesthood. His sacrifice is once and for all, making the old sacrifices unnecessary. The writer pushes these believers to keep their faith strong, to endure, and to focus on the eternal things that won’t ever change. Chapter 12 especially urges them to run with patience the race set before them, looking to Jesus, and to remember that they’ve come to Mount Zion, to God’s city, a place of peace and joy, not the fearful Mount Sinai. This verse about things being shaken comes right after a warning about rejecting God’s voice, comparing it to the shaking of the earth at Sinai, but now, God promises to shake not only the earth but also heaven, making it clear that only what is truly eternal will stand.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word ‘shaken’ from Hebrews 12:27. In the original Greek, this word is saleuō (σαλεύω). It means to cause to waver, to shake, to stir up, or to move from a fixed position. Imagine something unstable, like a building ready to collapse, or a boat rocking hard in a storm. It talks about things that are temporary, not firm, and able to be moved or removed entirely. When the Bible says some things will be ‘shaken,’ it means they’re not permanent; they’re temporary, just like everything in this world. But then it talks about ‘things which cannot be shaken’ – these are things that are solid, stable, and will stand forever, no matter what happens around them.

What Can Be Shaken, and What Can’t

The world around us is always changing. We often hold onto things that can’t last, and it’s not a good thing for someone who follows Christ to put too much hope in them. There’s nothing truly stable under these skies; change is written on everything we see and touch. Your job, your money, your health, your relationships—all these can shift or even disappear. We’ve got many things right now that can be shaken.

But you know what? We also have certain ‘things which cannot be shaken.’ I want you to think about these things tonight. If everything that can be shaken was taken away from you, if your world turned upside down, you could still find real comfort in these steady things. These things won’t move; they will remain.

Your Present Salvation: Unmoved by the World’s Tumult

Whatever losses you’ve faced, or whatever losses might come your way in the future, you have something that stands firm: your present salvation. You’re standing right at the foot of His cross, putting all your trust in the goodness of Jesus’ precious blood. No rise or fall of the markets can mess with your salvation in Him. If banks break, if businesses fail, if bankruptcies happen – none of that can touch the salvation you have in Christ. It’s safe, secure, and always yours.

You Are a Child of God: A Relationship That Can’t Be Broken

Tonight, you are a child of God. Think about that for a moment. God is your Father. No change in your life, no matter how bad, can ever take that away from you. Even if losses bring you to poverty, and you’re stripped bare of everything you own, you can still say, ‘He is my Father still.’ Remember what Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’ (John 14:2). Because of that truth, you won’t be troubled. Your heavenly Father’s home is waiting for you, and your place in His family is fixed forever.

The Love of Jesus Christ: A Steady Flame

You have another lasting good thing, and that’s the love of Jesus Christ. He is both God and Man, and He loves you with all the power of His deep, caring nature. Nothing can affect that love. The world might fall apart around you. The prophet Habakkuk talked about tough times, saying, ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls’ (Habakkuk 3:17). Even if all that happens, it doesn’t matter to the person who can sing, ‘My Beloved is mine, and I am His’ (Song of Solomon 2:16). His love for you doesn’t depend on your circumstances or what you have.

Your Best Portion and Richest Heritage: Secure Forever

Your best portion and richest heritage are things you can’t lose. Whatever troubles come our way, let’s face them like grown-ups. Let’s show that we’re not tiny children who get upset by what might happen in this poor, quick-moving time. Our true home is Immanuel’s land, God’s very own country. Our hope is far above the sky. Because of this, we can stay calm, like a quiet summer ocean. We’ll watch everything on earth break apart, and yet we’ll still rejoice in the God of our salvation. He is the one who keeps us, and He is the one who will never be shaken.