SEEKING BETTER THINGS

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. . . . But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6)

Devotion 6 of 26

THE BEST FOR THE LAST

At the wedding feast of Cana of Galilee, Jesus turned water into wine--"the beginning of miracles" in His prodigious ministry. That miracle set the tone for everything Jesus would do. It was a depiction of the type of era that was inducted by His Person and work. You may recall, the "governor of the feast" said of the wine created by Jesus, "thou hast kept the good wine until now" (John 1:1-10).

In salvation, God has offered His best! He has reserved the "best" for the closing period of time; and that is the time we are blessed to occupy! As it is written, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds" (Heb 1:1-2). He has reserved the best message for the last times, and delivered it by the best Spokesman, His only begotten Son. He offered the best sacrifice, which brought about the best effects. As the best High Priest, He is making the best intercession from the best position.

On that one-of-a-kind Pentecost, Peter announced these "last days" would begin with the Lord pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh, and that this would be a trait of those "last days." Our great God reserved the best for the last!

The word "better" comes from a word meaning, "stronger, i.e., better, nobler--best, better." This word presumes the existence of competitive, but inferior, interests. It is as though the best appears after everything else has had its day. Like the noon day sun, God's best rises to reduce the significance of everything else, introducing the best after everything else has had its day.

Scripture provides us a series of Divine summonses to "better things." Abraham was called to a "better" land. The ram caught in the thicket was a "better" sacrifice than Isaac. Canaan was a "better" land than Egypt. What Jesus inducted is "better" than what was "given by Moses." The words of Jesus were "better" than the words of the Scribes and Pharisees. The message of the Apostles was "better" than that of the Grecian philosophers.

"Better," however, means "best"; i.e., best by nature, as well as by comparison. We are required to "choose" what is best. As the "offspring of God," we have a moral obligation to grow, advance, and mature. Only things that are "better" can contribute to spiritual growth and excellence. No advancement in the Lord can be realized by inferior means. God has made no provision for better results to come from mediocre or lesser means.

Spiritual and moral decline is the essence of ungodliness. Those caught in a downward spiral are in serious jeopardy. The word of God is clear on this point. "But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved" (Heb 10:38-39, NIV). If this text were taken seriously by the contemporary church, it would produce a spiritual revolution that would shake the foundations of the kingdom of darkness!

God is not, and cannot be, pleased with a person in spiritual decline. Such a one is rushing toward condemnation at breakneck speed! If his course is not arrested, he will surely taste of the wrath of God! Spiritual retrogression leads to perdition, and there are no exceptions! This situation is accentuated by the existence of "better things," made available and accessible in Jesus Christ.

The second child of Adam and Eve was the best (Abel compared with Cain). The second child of Abraham was best (Isaac compared with Ishmael). The second twin of Isaac was better than the first (Jacob compared with Esau). The Second man, Christ Jesus, is better than the first, Adam. The "second covenant" is better than the "first." The "rest that remains" is better than the one inculcated under the Law. The "substance" which is of Christ is better than the shadows that introduced it, and the antitype is always better than the type. The New Jerusalem is better than the first one, and our resurrection bodies will be better than the ones we presently occupy. God always reserves the best for last.

PRAYER POINT: Father, In Jesus' name, I thank you for so arranging things that we can set our face toward heaven, always looking for better things.

-- Tomorrow: REQUIRED FOR PROGRESS --