This post is based on Hebrews 3:12-19.

As we finished Hebrews 3 tonight, a number of themes emerged in our conversation, but all of them revolved around one metaphor: how’s your stance?

Imagine an archer standing at the ready—
aiming just above a target in the distance,
not stepping too far forward or too far back.
That’s the image. Let’s break it down.

Early in tonight’s verses, the theme of sin popped up, but in the modern age of televangelists who can stretch this one syllable out into three or more (SEEE-uh-na), I wonder if we misconstrue it. We often hear sin spoken of as a willful act of rebellion against God, and while this may be the case in some instances, the origins of the word sin hint at something a little more unconscious.

In both Hebrew and Greek, the words we translate “sin” have more to do with missing a mark than willful defiance. Again, think of the archer. When aiming at a far-off target, if the arrow falls a little short of the paint and strikes the ground in front instead, the archer is said to commit khata (Hebrew for a failing) or hamartia (Greek for a flaw). “Sin” here is really just about our normal flawed selves and needing to always correct for our shortcomings. To remedy the khata/hamartia/sin, the archer must aim above the target— look to something above and trust that the arc of gravity will inherently pull the arrow downward. When Hebrews 3 speaks of holding fast and not slipping away, this high aim is our best visual.

After this mention of sin, the author of Hebrews puts special emphasis on the word “today.” While the author draws on images of the past (such as Israel’s khata in the wilderness in Numbers 20) and keeps an eye toward Christ’s role in the future, the author’s instruction is for the here and now. The “today” in this passage has a subtext of “always”— that eternal present into which we can step. Attempting to plant your feet in either the past or the future will inevitably lead to falling down; the place where you’re needed is the present, so plant your feet firmly there.

Lastly, the passage mentions two words that both have to do with who or what is beside you: parakaleo (“encourage” in v. 13) and apistis (“unbelief” in v. 19). Bearing the same root words as a title for the Holy Spirit, parakaleo involves walking beside someone and encouraging them along the way. Your Bible may say “encourage” or “exhort” for this word, but I prefer to think of it as “Be like the Holy Spirit to one another.” Pistis is the word we translate “faith” or “belief,” but a more literal translation would be “leaning on”— the mental image being like leaning on a cane for balance as you walk. This is the role faith should play in our lives: a thing on which to place our weight as we find our balance to stand and walk.

So, are your feet firmly planted in the present?
Are you aiming, knowing that we’re prone to fall short?
Do you have people you trust to lean on,
and are you being like the Holy Spirit to others?

Hebrews 3 calls on us to do these things and promises a reward sorely desired in the modern day: holy rest. We’ll talk more about that rest next week.