DOES GOD NOTICE WHEN WE KEEP TRYING?
Hebrews 6:9–20 — When we cannot see the results of our work, and when tomorrow is uncertain, where can we find encouragement?
Have you ever spent time helping someone and wondered whether it made any difference?
Perhaps you taught a Bible class, encouraged a discouraged friend, helped someone through a difficult time, or prayed for someone for years without seeing much change.
You did what you could.
You tried to help.
But nothing seemed to happen.
Sometimes we begin to wonder whether our efforts accomplished anything at all.
The writer of Hebrews has something important to say about that.
Hebrews 6:10 (ESV)
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Notice those words:
God does not overlook your work.
That is an encouraging promise, particularly when our efforts seem unnoticed or unsuccessful.
But to understand it properly, we need to see why the writer said it.
1. Why Did the Writer of Hebrews Offer This Encouragement?
Hebrews was written to Christians who needed encouragement to remain faithful.
Some were becoming spiritually sluggish. Others faced pressures that could tempt them to turn away from Christ.
In Hebrews 5:11–14, the writer expressed concern about their lack of spiritual growth.
Then, in Hebrews 6:4–8, he gave a serious warning about abandoning Christ.
His words were strong.
But he did not intend to leave these Christians without hope.
In Hebrews 6:9, he says:
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. (ESV)
Why was he encouraged about them?
Because he could see evidence of their love and service.
They had been helping other Christians, and they were continuing to do so.
The writer wanted them to understand that their service mattered.
Not because it made them famous.
Not because everyone appreciated it.
But because it expressed their love for God.
Their service to others was evidence of their love for Him.
2. God Sees the Ordinary Things We Do
Most Christian service is not spectacular.
Someone visits a sick friend.
Someone prepares a meal for a family going through a difficult time.
Someone encourages a person who is discouraged.
Someone helps an elderly neighbor.
Someone patiently teaches a Bible class, even when only a few people attend.
These acts may never be announced publicly.
But that does not make them unimportant.
Jesus made a similar point in Matthew 10:42.
He spoke about giving a cup of cold water to one of His disciples because that person belonged to Him.
A cup of cold water is a very small gift.
Yet Jesus said that such an act would not go unrewarded.
Why?
Because the value of Christian service is not measured simply by how impressive it appears.
The motive matters.
The person being helped matters.
And God sees what others may overlook.
We do not have to accomplish something great in the eyes of the world to do something pleasing to God.
3. What If We Cannot See Any Results?
Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
That is a wonderful statement.
But have you ever wondered how it works in everyday life?
Sometimes we work hard at something and cannot see that we are accomplishing anything.
Let me illustrate.
A couple of years ago, we had a new walkway poured between our house and the garage.
In the process, some of the grass was destroyed.
Recently, a friend came over and spent two days preparing the ground so we could grow grass again.
He worked the soil, prepared everything, and planted the seed.
Then he left me with one responsibility.
Water it.
That was my job.
Twice a day.
So I watered it in the morning and again later in the day.
Every day.
For a week.
And what did I see?
Nothing.
Not one blade of grass that I could see.
But I kept watering.
The second week came.
More watering.
Still nothing seemed to be happening.
I began wondering whether we were going to have any grass at all.
Was the seed bad?
Had something gone wrong?
Then came the third week.
Here and there, I began to see tiny blades of green.
Not much.
Just a little.
But eventually, grass began appearing almost everywhere.
Something had been happening all along. I simply couldn't see it.
While I was looking at bare dirt, the seed was germinating.
Roots were developing.
Life was beginning.
And all I had been asked to do was keep watering.
4. "I Planted, Apollos Watered, but God Gave the Growth"
That experience reminds me of something Paul wrote.
1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (ESV)
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
Paul was discussing divisions among Christians in Corinth.
Some were attaching too much importance to the particular teacher they followed.
Paul corrected that thinking.
He had planted.
Apollos had watered.
But neither man was responsible for producing spiritual life.
God gave the growth.
The teachers were servants carrying out the work God had given them.
This passage does not promise that everyone we teach will become a Christian.
Nor does it promise that every effort will produce visible results.
Jesus Himself taught that some seed falls on ground where it does not produce lasting fruit (Luke 8:4–15).
But we should not conclude that our efforts are wasted simply because we cannot see immediate results.
A Bible lesson may cause someone to begin thinking.
A kind word may encourage someone who is struggling.
A conversation about Scripture may raise a question that the person continues considering long after we have forgotten the conversation.
We may never know what influence our efforts have had.
And sometimes there may be no lasting response.
Our responsibility is to serve faithfully. We cannot control another person's response.
That is an important distinction.
We can plant.
We can water.
But we cannot force the seed to grow.
5. God Remembers the Love Behind Our Service
Let's return to Hebrews 6:10.
The writer does not simply say that God remembers everything we accomplish.
He speaks of:
"Your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints."
The emphasis is not merely on activity.
It is on love expressed through service.
We might do something impressive because we want recognition.
We might help someone because we expect something in return.
But Christian service should grow out of love for God and love for others.
Jesus taught that loving God and loving our neighbors are the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37–40).
John wrote:
1 John 3:18 (ESV)
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Love is more than something we say.
It should influence what we do.
When we care for others because we love God, our service has significance even if nobody else notices.
God does not forget love expressed through faithful service.
6. Don't Stop Doing Good — Hebrews 6:11–12
The writer continues:
Hebrews 6:11–12 (ESV)
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Notice the progression.
The writer acknowledges their service.
Then he encourages them to continue.
He does not say, "You have already done enough."
He wants them to show the same diligence until the end.
Why?
Because Christian faithfulness is not merely about beginning well.
It is about continuing.
Paul makes a similar point in Galatians 6:9–10.
He encourages Christians not to grow weary in doing good and to take opportunities to do good to others.
Sometimes we become discouraged because our efforts seem small.
Sometimes we become tired because the needs around us are so great.
Sometimes we wonder whether anyone appreciates what we are doing.
Hebrews reminds us that God knows.
And Galatians reminds us not to give up.
Do the good you can do today, even when you cannot see what it may accomplish tomorrow.
7. Why Does the Writer Suddenly Mention Abraham?
After encouraging his readers to continue faithfully, the writer turns to Abraham.
At first, that may seem like a change of subject.
But it is part of the same argument.
Hebrews 6:12 urges Christians to imitate those who inherit God's promises through faith and patience.
Abraham is an example.
God promised to bless Abraham and multiply his descendants.
But Abraham had to wait.
Years passed before Isaac was born.
Abraham also experienced trials that tested his faith.
Yet God remained faithful to His word.
In Genesis 22:15–18, God confirmed His promise with an oath.
Hebrews 6:13–18 explains why that matters.
God swore by Himself because there was no greater authority by whom He could swear.
His promise was already trustworthy.
The oath gave additional encouragement to those who would inherit the promise.
The writer identifies two unchangeable things: God's promise and His oath.
Then he makes this remarkable statement:
Hebrews 6:18 — It is impossible for God to lie.
That is the foundation of Christian confidence.
We may misunderstand something.
We may fail to keep a promise.
Our circumstances may change.
But God's character does not change.
Our hope rests upon the faithfulness of God, not upon our ability to control the future.
8. What Does It Mean to Have an Anchor for the Soul?
Now we reach Hebrews 6:19.
Hebrews 6:19 (ESV)
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.
An anchor holds a ship securely.
When the wind blows and the water becomes rough, the anchor helps prevent the ship from drifting.
The writer compares Christian hope to an anchor.
But there is something unusual about his illustration.
An ordinary anchor reaches downward into the water.
The Christian's hope reaches into God's heavenly presence.
The expression behind the curtain recalls the Most Holy Place in Israel's tabernacle.
Under the Law of Moses, the high priest entered that sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.
But Hebrews points us to something greater.
Our hope reaches into the heavenly sanctuary where Jesus has gone before us.
Hebrews 6:20 calls Jesus our forerunner.
He has entered God's presence on our behalf.
And He serves as our High Priest forever.
So the anchor is more than a picture of remaining calm when life becomes difficult.
It is a picture of hope secured by Jesus Christ and His continuing priestly work.
That is why our hope can remain firm even when our circumstances change.
9. When Tomorrow Is Uncertain
Let me tell you about another friend.
For approximately fifteen years, he has battled different kinds of cancer.
During those years, he has faced repeated treatments, medical problems, and surgeries.
What he has experienced would be enough to discourage almost anyone.
Yet I have never known him to be bitter about it.
When another serious operation approaches, he tells his family and friends:
"It's a win-win situation."
Imagine that.
He is facing another major surgery, and he calls it a win-win situation.
Then he explains:
"If I survive the surgery, I win. I get to spend more time with all of you.
"But if I don't survive, I get to go and be with the Lord.
"So I win either way."
What enables someone to speak that way?
It is not because he enjoys being sick.
It is not because surgery is pleasant.
And it certainly is not because he does not love his family.
He does.
But his hope is not limited to whether the next operation succeeds.
His hope rests upon Jesus Christ.
That reminds us of the apostle Paul.
10. "To Live Is Christ, and to Die Is Gain"
Paul wrote:
Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul wrote these words while facing an uncertain future.
He knew that remaining alive would give him further opportunities to serve Christ and help other Christians.
But he also looked forward to being with Christ.
Read Philippians 1:20–26.
Paul was not saying that life had no value.
Quite the opposite.
He saw continued life as an opportunity for fruitful service.
Yet he also understood that death would not destroy the hope he had in Christ.
His confidence was not based upon knowing exactly what would happen next.
It was based upon knowing the Lord.
This is an important part of Christian hope.
Faith does not mean we know whether the next surgery will succeed.
It does not mean we know whether our health will improve.
It does not mean we will escape suffering.
It means that our relationship with Christ gives us hope beyond the uncertainties of this life.
That is the kind of confidence Hebrews wants its readers to have.
11. Two Kinds of Uncertainty, One Faithful God
Now consider how the two illustrations fit together.
In the first, I was watering grass seed.
I could not see what was happening beneath the soil.
In the second, my friend faced another serious operation.
He could not know what would happen in the operating room.
Those are very different situations.
But both remind us of something important.
We do not always know what tomorrow will bring.
Sometimes we cannot see the results of our efforts.
Sometimes we cannot control the circumstances we face.
But neither situation changes God's character.
Hebrews 6 reminds us that God is faithful.
He does not overlook the love His people show through service.
He does not lie.
He does not forget His promises.
And He has provided Jesus Christ as our eternal High Priest.
That gives us a reason to continue faithfully.
Not because we are guaranteed visible success.
Not because every problem will disappear.
But because God is worthy of our trust.
12. Does God's Promise Mean Everything We Attempt Will Succeed?
This is an important question.
We must not turn Hebrews 6:10 into a promise the writer never made.
The verse does not say that every Bible class will produce converts.
It does not say every person we help will appreciate us.
It does not say every illness will be healed.
It does not say every good effort will have a result we can measure.
The promise is that God does not overlook the work and love His people show for His name.
Likewise, 1 Corinthians 3:6 does not teach that every seed we plant will grow.
Paul's point is that spiritual growth belongs to God, not to the human teacher.
Our responsibility is to serve faithfully and leave the results in God's hands.
This distinction protects us from unnecessary disappointment.
If we measure faithfulness only by visible success, we may become discouraged.
But Scripture calls us to be faithful even when the outcome is uncertain.
13. What Should We Do This Week?
Perhaps there is someone you have been meaning to visit.
Perhaps a friend needs encouragement.
Perhaps someone has asked a Bible question, and you have been putting off answering it.
Perhaps you have been helping someone for a long time and are beginning to wonder whether your efforts matter.
Remember Hebrews 6:10.
God sees the love behind your service.
Remember Galatians 6:9.
Do not grow weary in doing good.
Remember 1 Corinthians 3:6.
You can plant and water, but God gives the growth.
And remember Hebrews 6:19–20.
Your hope is anchored in God's presence, where Jesus has gone before you.
You do not have to accomplish everything.
You do not have to know every outcome.
You do not have to control tomorrow.
You are called to trust God and faithfully do the good you can do today.
Conclusion: God Has Not Forgotten
Hebrews 6:9–20 offers two wonderful forms of encouragement.
First, God has not forgotten your service.
He knows the love you have shown in caring for others.
Even when the results are not visible, your efforts are not overlooked by Him.
Second, God has not forgotten His promises.
His word is trustworthy.
His purpose is unchangeable.
And Jesus Christ has entered God's presence as our High Priest.
We may not know what tomorrow will bring.
We may not see everything our efforts accomplish.
But we know whom we trust.
So keep doing good.
Keep serving others.
Keep encouraging those who are discouraged.
Keep teaching God's Word.
And when life becomes difficult, remember where your hope is anchored.
God has not forgotten your work.
God will not fail to keep His promises.
And Jesus Christ is our sure and steadfast hope.
Going Deeper: Questions Worth Examining
1. Does Hebrews 6:10 teach salvation by good works?
No. The writer is encouraging Christians whose service demonstrates their love for God. He does not present their works as a replacement for Christ's saving work. Compare Ephesians 2:8–10, where salvation by grace and the purpose of good works are both emphasized.
2. Why does Hebrews 6:11 tell Christians to continue diligently until the end?
Because the writer is concerned about perseverance. The encouragement of verse 10 does not cancel the earlier warnings. He wants his readers to continue in faith and love rather than become spiritually sluggish.
3. Does 1 Corinthians 3:6 promise that every person we teach will become a Christian?
No. Paul's immediate subject is the relationship between those who teach and God, who gives spiritual growth. Jesus' parable of the soils also shows that people respond differently to God's Word.
4. What are the two unchangeable things in Hebrews 6:18?
God's promise and His oath. The writer uses them to emphasize the complete trustworthiness of God's word.
5. Why does Hebrews 6:19 say our hope enters behind the curtain?
Because the writer is connecting Christian hope with Jesus' priestly ministry in God's presence. The picture comes from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle and prepares readers for the fuller explanation of Christ's priesthood in Hebrews 7–10.
6. Does Christian hope mean we will never experience fear or discouragement?
No. Christians may experience grief, uncertainty, and suffering. Biblical hope means that these experiences do not destroy the promises God has made through Christ. Compare Philippians 1:20–26 and Romans 8:18–25.
Continue Exploring Scripture
Hebrews 6:13–20 — Why can we be certain of God's promises?
1 Corinthians 3:5–9 — Planting, watering, and God's work.
Philippians 1:20–26 — Why Paul could say, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain."
TEXT B4 TRADITION
READ FIRST. CONCLUDE LATER.
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