Rich men go bankrupt. Famous people fade. Nations rise and fall. But Christ’s kingdom, and only Christ’s kingdom, is forever.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us is this: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (13:8). There’s always a temptation in the Christian life to take our eyes off of Him and fix them back on familiar, tangible things. This is not to say that “material” is bad and “immaterial” is good. That’s gnosticism, Patrick!

But there is a point the writer of Hebrews is trying to make. And I want to get to that in this post.

Let me start by telling you a story…

A Legend

In 1519, Hernán Cortés landed on the shores of Mexico with around 600 men. Outnumbered by the massive Aztec empire, his soldiers were naturally tempted to think about retreat. Imagine them looking back over their shoulders at the ships—those floating symbols of safety, security, and home.

So Cortés gave the order: Burn the ships. Can’t go home with no more boats! Retreat was no longer an option.

In a similar way, the message of Hebrews 13 is this:  Stop longing for the comfort and security of material things. Building earthly empires is foolish. Burn the ships. There’s no going back.

You’re not going back to the ceremonies.

Not to the rituals.

Not to the approval of man.

Not to the city of Jerusalem.

You are all in on King Jesus.

Christ Is Better

Verse 9 reminds us: it’s not food or ceremony that strengthens the heart—but grace.

“It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”

Jesus Himself taught that it’s not what enters the stomach that makes someone clean—but what flows from the heart.

And the gospel promises a new heart:

• A heart of flesh
• A heart sprinkled clean
• A heart with God’s law written upon it

Yet the temptation remains: to look to ritual for strength.

• The Jews had ceremonial foods
• Rome has the sacramental system
• Even in Reformed circles, some cling to man-made traditions as though those give life

But our strength comes from Christ alone. Not from head coverings, homeschooling, or ceremonies. These may have value, but they are not the means of justification or heart-renewal.

“What do I need?” I need more Christ.

I need to remember His atonement.

His righteousness.

His resurrection.

My union with Him.

My justification.

My adoption.

Grace strengthens the heart—not rituals.

You Can’t Eat from Both Altars

Verse 10 says, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.”

We don’t return to the temple. We don’t return to physical sacrifices. We have something better: Christ Himself.

John Owen put it this way:“The Lord Christ…is himself both our altar and our sacrifice.”

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