We are among those who have faith

Heb 10:39

Aquila and Priscilla’s Letter to the Hebrews delivers a series of five profound and urgent warnings designed to awaken our soul and fortify our spirit. In the first warning (Hebrews 2:1–4), we are cautioned against the quiet, imperceptible danger of spiritual drifting, reminding us of the profound cost of neglecting so great a salvation. This theme intensifies in the second warning (Hebrews 3:7–4:13), which serves as a clarion call to cultivate a resilient, unwavering faith. It implores us to guard our hearts against the hardening effects of unbelief and disobedience, which ultimately bar us from entering God’s promised rest. Finally, the third warning (Hebrews 5:11–6:20) sounds a sobering alarm on the peril of spiritual stagnation, declaring that those who have tasted the heavenly gift and fallen away face the terrifying impossibility of being restored again to repentance.

Our reflection brings us to the fourth warning (Hebrews 10:26–39), an account that transitions from a stark, cautionary threat into an assurance of profound hope. The passage opens with a sobering decree: If we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins (v. 26). Yet, it concludes on a remarkably encouraging note, reaffirming the destiny of the faithful: We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life (v. 39).

This passage stands as a profound spiritual mirror, piercing the veneer of casual complacency and summoning us to weigh the true depth of our devotion. It unveils a divine love that is beautiful yet fiercely holy—a grace far too costly to be treated as cheap or convenient. Genuine faith does not falter in the crucible of adversity; it rises, trusts blindly in the promises of God, and endures with quiet patience. It dismantles the illusion of a passive, comfortable faith, proving that salvation is not merely a historical decision we once made, but a living, breathing endurance we walk out today. When the undertow of life threatens to drift us away, we are reminded that to shrink back is to forfeit our destiny. Ultimately, the call of Hebrews is an invitation to look back at God’s unswerving faithfulness, look forward to the glory that awaits, and stand unshakeable under the pressures of the present hour.

The heartbeat of this message is clear and uncompromising. To deliberately and continuously choose the path of sin after receiving the light of truth is to walk outside the shelter of grace, leaving only the terrifying reality of divine justice and holy fire. Therefore, we must call to remember those early days of our awakening—those moments when we boldly endured a great conflict of suffering. We need endurance, so that after we have fulfilled the beautiful will of God, we may inherit all that God has promised. For we are not of those who shrink back into destruction, but of those who journey onward in faith, unto the saving of the soul.

Hebrews unveils the sublime architecture of faith: Jesus Christ is the definitive and singular beacon of salvation, and to reject him is to wander into eternal ruin. To willfully turn away from his truth is to cross a spiritual horizon of no return, stripping the soul of any other sanctuary for sin. Our truest devotion is forged and proven resilient in the quiet crucible of trials. We are empowered to withstand the fleeting afflictions of this world when our hearts are captivated by the assurance of a richer, everlasting inheritance in the heavens.

Our daughter, Joyce, along with her eldest son and his Guatemalan girlfriend, were scheduled to travel from California to Manila last month for Jean’s 80th birthday. However, upon learning that Jean was suffering from severe hypertension—with a systolic reading of 200—accompanied by headaches, eye strain, and general weakness, Joyce quietly altered her plans. To our immense surprise, she arrived four days early without a word of warning, taking a Grab straight from the airport to our doorstep.

Since Joyce assumed her role as the Executive Director of a premier, state-of-the-art assisted living facility in Northern California, her professional insight has been a blessing to our family. She gently encouraged and accompanied us through a whirlwind of medical appointments over the next few days, helping arrange consultations with specialists—including a cardiologist, an internist, and a nephrologist—alongside comprehensive laboratory tests. Joyce even generously covered the costs of most of our prescriptions and diagnostic procedures. Having avoided doctors and medical checkups for years, the results were a revelation: it turned out that Jean was not the only one in need of medical attention. I, too, was diagnosed with elevated blood sugar and high cholesterol.

While these events do not fully align with the context of the fourth warning in Hebrews, we are delighted to share them with you. They “unveil a divine love that is beautiful yet fiercely holy” and mark a profound step in our “journey onward in faith, unto the saving of the soul.” Ultimately, they reinforce our conviction that “our truest devotion is forged and proven resilient in the quiet crucible of trials,” and thus “empowering us to withstand the fleeting afflictions of this world when our hearts are captivated by the assurance of a richer, everlasting inheritance in the heavens.”

Jean’s 80th birthday was a milestone graced with beautiful, lasting memories. The dining room, lovingly decorated by Joyce, set a warm and festive backdrop for a wonderful two-day celebration. The festivities began on the 20th with an intimate dinner at home, where Jean blew out her birthday candles surrounded by family, followed by a joyful musical performance by Joyce and the grandchildren. The joy continued into the next day with snacks, bowling, and dinner at the Celebrity Club, bringing together all our children and grandchildren in joyful unity.

Beyond the festivities, this special time was deepened by shared devotion; during her stay, Joyce regularly joined the family for evening Divine Mercy prayers and the Rosary. This beautiful bond endures, as she continues to faithfully gather with us online for our daily evening prayers. Truly, God’s blessings abundantly rest upon those who have faith