Hebrews 12:26-27
Last week we looked at the teaching of Jesus in Mark 13. You may remember that he was telling his disciples that there would be some rough times ahead. They were not to lose heart or give up their faith. In fact He told them in essence to wait patiently, work faithfully and watch diligently. They were to guard their lives and live out the word of God everyday no matter what the cost to them personally. It did cost them. It cost them dearly. It cost eleven out of twelve their very lives. They were murdered for their faith in Christ.
"When Hitler began interfering with the churches and humiliating the German Jews, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a loyal German himself, began to resist and protest. He refused to participate in the state churches, which bowed down to the fuehrer’s demands. Several of Bonhoeffer’s friends urged him to bend. They argued that they would lose the opportunity to preach altogether if they followed Bonhoeffer’s example. He replied, "One act of obedience is better than a thousand sermons." He eventually paid with his life for holding that conviction" (Herb Miller. Actions Speak Louder Than Verbs. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989, p. 38)
We can hardly conceive of such a thing in our western culture American minds. We wrap ourselves in things of this world without a thought. We are more attached to the things of this world than what any of us want to admit or even take the time to consider.
“In all worldly things that a man pursues with the greatest eagerness he finds not half the pleasure in the possession that he proposed to himself in the expectation.”
-- Robert South
The bottom line is that the things of this world are not going to last forever. You need to know what to put your faith in. You and I need to understand the importance of investing our precious time and resources in things that last.
It is very a comforting thought that in a world that is changing faster than at any other time in history there are some things that cannot be shaken. In the closing verses of Hebrews 12, we learn that a time of shaking is to be expected. Peter reminds us of this in his second writing:
9The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. 10But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.[a] 11Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! 12You should look forward to that day and hurry it along--the day when God will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God.
14And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to live a pure and blameless life. And be at peace with God. 2 Peter 3:9-14
It is a good idea to remember the teaching and parable of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-29. In this story everything that is not built on the solid rock will collapse.
The Hebrew writer is reminding us of a story we studied this summer. It is the story of Moses and the nation of Israel coming to see and hear God at the foot of Mt. Sinai. The writer is clearly stating that when we go to heaven some day it will be far different than it was in this Old Testament story. 18You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai when God gave them his laws. 19For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice with a message so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."[d] 21Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."[e]
22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. 23You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.
25See to it that you obey God, the one who is speaking to you. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, how terrible our danger if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."[f] 27This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29For our God is a consuming fire.
What are some things that can’t be shaken? I want to give you four things that you can rest assured can’t be shaken. 
1. The Throne of God. He is Sovereign Forever!
The fact is that we believe and teach that God is Sovereign. The word sovereign simply means: the ultimate, all powerful and above all else.
“Your throne O God, endures forever and ever.” Psalm 45:6
“But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.” Lamentations 5:19
“"Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 Even they will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. 12You will roll them up like an old coat. They will fade away like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will never grow old.” Hebrews 1:10-12
This is a critical part of having a solid biblical world view. You and I must accept and embrace the idea that God is all powerful and is always in control. The things that happen in our lives are allowed because He in His infinite wisdom knows what is best. We also live on a planet that is not perfect. We are not perfect. Our bodies get sick. Accidents happen due to human error. There is evil in the world. God has given us some promises but you need to know that living on this earth is not heaven.
There will be some very hard times that come into our lives. We may look at others and wonder why they seem to not have anything that ever touches them. All of us at one time or another is touched by moments of greatest challenge. Our belief system is the foundation that will allow us to keep standing when everything around us is sinking sand.
Some of you will spend hours trying to figure out who is going to fight who in the Middle East. Dictators, Evil Leaders and even Antichrists will come and go but there is One who will never be conquered.
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.” Psalm 46:1-5 
2. The Word of God. It is Strong and Faithful!
1 Peter 23-24: “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, People are like grass; their beauty is like the flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.”
I recently have shown a video clip of Billy Graham traveling in communist countries during some of the darkest days of the cold war. He was mercilessly criticized by evangelical Christians and others for hanging out with Communist. Ever where he went on the streets of major cities in places like Moscow and Budapest, he would hold his bible high above his head as a testimony. It was a silent witness in places where people have been killed for worshipping the God of the Bible.
So called scholars for years have tried to take this book apart. It is a sad day when man and the study of science dictates what will be accepted as true in this book and what will be a mistake. Science has its place but it will never supersede the word of God.
Back in the 1880's Nietzsche declared that "God is dead," and before the turn of the Twentieth Century, Shaw and Wells chimed in saying the 20th Century would mark the end of the world's "religious phase."
Yet, today a church now meets in Russia's Museum of Religion and Atheism-the former center of atheism. Nearly half of the United States' population attends worship on a regular basis while revival is sweeping through Latin America and Christianity grows behind China's iron curtain. (From Fresh Illustrations http://www.freshministry.org/illustrations.html )
Its promises can’t be shaken.
It is estimates that there are 30,000 promises in the Bible but not one has ever failed, and not one ever will fail. There are promises for every situation and circumstance of life and they all become ours when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.
“For all God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means yes) ascends to God for His glory.” 2 Cor. 1:20
Its power can’t be shaken.
“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
It has the power to convict: In Acts 2:37 we read, “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and the said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do.”
It has the power to convert: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7
It has the power to cleanse: “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” Psalm 119:9
It has the power to comfort: “Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me, it comforts me in all my troubles.” Psalm 119:49 – 50.
It has the power to counsel: “You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.” Psalm 74:24
“12For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Hebrews 4:12
Its prophecies can’t be shaken.
Men may scoff at the prophesies contained in the Bible but by doing so they only fulfill the Bible.
“3First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire. 4This will be their argument: "Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created." 2 Peter 3:3-4
The contains the blueprints of how to live our lives and build ourselves up spiritually. You must deal with the all the different aspects of the word of God. Ask yourselves questions using the words above. (If it is convicting have I been convicted? If it is converting, have I been converted. . . etc) 
3. The Church of God. It has a Solid Foundation!
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus assures His disciples that the church is built on the solid foundation of His person and His work. He said, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means rock) and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
Having spent three years of my life as a volunteer fireman I can tell you what we used to say to any critics that doubted our abilities. “We never lost a foundation!” Everything else may crumble but the foundation will always be there unless you intentionally dismantle it.
Churches, denominations, assemblies or whatever you want to call the assembled group of followers of Jesus Christ have always experienced shaking. Sometimes it is because of outward persecution and sometimes it is from the worldliness that creeps in. Often it is the digression from the word of God that leads there to be a shake-up which will spawn a whole new remnant of the church. Examples: Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley/George Whitfield, our own heritage with the Methodist Church.
Charles Finney/Oberlin College 
4. The Child of God. We have a Sure Future!
27My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, 29for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. John 10 27-29
“That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” 2 Timothy 1:12
If you keep your hand in God’s hand and follow his ways and do his will you have the promise found in the old song How Firm a Foundation:
“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, I will not – I will not desert to its foes:
That soul – though all hell should endeavor to shake – I’ll never – no never, no never forsake!”
38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. 39Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Max Lucado wrote the book, When God Whispers Your Name and in it are these words:
It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.
In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day.
The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.
The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands.
It is now that I must make a choice.
Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker.
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose Patience...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.
Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich for they are afraid.
And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness...
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.
I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I will accuse.
I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust.
My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love.
And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control...
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.
I choose self -control.
I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.
To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek His grace.
And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
God knows your name and if you listen you will hear him today. Don’t let your faith be shaken. Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe and trust in God.