The dictionary defines the word refuge as a “shelter or place of protection from danger, trouble, etc.”
The author of Hebrews said, “we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us (6:18).” What does he mean when he says we have fled for refuge?
He is talking about running to Jesus, as the next verses make clear: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever…”
The word refuge speaks of a shelter, but it has a much richer meaning than that. This actually looks back to the cities of refuge described in Numbers 35. When the Israelites settled the Promised Land, they were told to create six such cities as shelters for people. These were cities where people could go if they accidentally took a life. Under their law, a relative of a slain person would avenge the blood of the victim, so these cities of refuge were set up for a person to escape and plead his cause.
If the elders in that city concluded that the action was manslaughter rather than murder, then the killer could live in that city and be protected from the ones who sought revenge. If your actions accidentally caused the death of another person, you would flee to the nearest city of refuge before an angry brother could get his hands on you.
The author of Hebrews portrays us as guilty people about to meet our fate, but we can run to Jesus for refuge. Even though we have messed up, it has been decided that we can stay and be made safe.
That is what salvation is. We are all guilty before God because of our sin, and we are going to meet our certain fate—eternal separation from God. But He allows us to run for refuge, and there find protection from trouble.
Some people think they can go to God just as they are because they are a good person, but we must see ourselves as someone in danger. Stop trying to convince yourself you aren’t that bad, and accept the shelter found in Jesus. Flee to Him for refuge, and you will be saved.
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