Let the reader not draw back to the destruction of his or her physical body in the Day of Christ, as the Hebrew Christians were in danger of doing. Let us all press forward so through faith and patience we may inherit the Kingdom of God.

It is noteworthy that the writer of Hebrews, in order to teach Christians the meaning of "the just shall live by faith" (an expression from the Old Testament), used the lives of the patriarchs and saints of the old covenant. The continuity of the covenants is revealed here. We see that no individual under any covenant pleased God other than through faith. We see also that faith consists of works of obedience to God's revealed will, not belief in a theological position.

We are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses. We have profited by their example. They are profiting by our example.

We all shall come to perfection together in the Kingdom of God when Jesus Christ appears. We then shall be whole in spirit, soul, and body, and filled with the Presence of the Father and the Son through the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 11:39-12:1—NIV)

This is a goal worth pursuing. It is not easy but it is possible through Christ.

Is this what you desire above all else—immortality in the Presence of God and Christ forever?

Don't forfeit your birthright as did Esau, for there may be no place of repentance for you if you turn away from Christ. (There wasn't for Esau!)

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. (Hebrews 12:15-17—NIV)

The above was not written to the unsaved but to the Hebrew Christians. It applies to the Christian salvation. It is Christians who can lose the inheritance, who can be unchangeably rejected; otherwise the Holy Spirit would not have addressed the warning to believers.

If you wish to attain immortality, keep going forward in God. Never, never quit. He is faithful to keep that which you commit to Him so in the Day of His appearing you will be able to stand before Him in perfect, unsullied joy and victory. (from To Perish or To Live)