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 17 of 26

THE PROVISION OF A BETTER THING

The people of God have always been at a variance with the world. The stronger their faith, the sharper the contention with the world order. Although aggressively opposed by the world, saints prior to Christ kept their faith, and their faith kept them. The remarkable circumstances through which they were sustained are summarized in the book of Hebrews. Not only did faith work mighty exploits, but also produced remarkable endurance.

"And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb 11:36-40).

The term "trial of cruel mockings and scourgings" denotes a challenging of the faith of the saints. With unspeakable cruelty, wicked men assaulted the people of God, seeking to destroy their faith. The ungodly judged believers unworthy to live in the world. However, God judged the world unworthy of the believers.

Believers were not only abused physically, they were exiled to the waste areas of the earth, even though the world did not deserve their leavening influence. Like lonely nomads, some with faith wandered in barren deserts, desolate mountains, dark dens, and morbid caves of the earth.

These saints all received a "good report" because of their faith. Yet, they did not obtain "the promise" of blessing. Their faith was adequate for the time, but it did not fulfill the commitment of the Almighty to bless His people with blessing. "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing". (Gen 12:2). "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen 22:17-18). As much as those saints were blessed, greater blessings were on the way! They did not receive the best blessing.

The "better thing" is the Abrahamic covenant, or the New Covenant. It includes the remission of sin, fellowship with Deity, and the hope of glory--none of which were included in the Old Covenant. The "better thing" focuses on the world to come. Both believers and unbelievers agree on this: the godly do not find their rest in "this present evil world."

This "better thing" is the canopy of divine blessing. It is God being "for us" and not against us (Rom 8:31). It a view of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20) and justification (Rom 5:1). It is God making Christ to be . . . our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Cor 1:30). It is the removal of everything that kept us from God, and the granting of everything required to please Him! Truly, God reserved a "better thing" for those in His Son!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus for the excellence of Your great salvation.

-- Tomorrow: BLOOD THAT SPEAKS BETTER THINGS --