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 24 of 26

BETTER THAN GOLD

Today is the "day of salvation" (Isa 49:8; 2 Cor 6:2) -- the era of "better things." It is the time when God is justifying men "freely" (Rom 3:24) and giving them a "new heart" and a "new spirit" (Ezek 26:26). Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him" (Heb 1:3; 8:1; 1 Pet 3:22). He is feeding and leading the flock of God in the strength of the Lord as He "brings many sons to glory" (Isa 40:11; Heb 2:10).

There is nothing about this marvelous "day" that is mediocre or unproductive. Rather, it is a glorious day, filled with "better things." The dullness and spiritual paltriness of the average Western world church service is a miserable representation of the nature of this "day of salvation." This is a time when the Lord Jesus is mediating a "better covenant" (Heb 8:6), bringing the unparalleled blessings of that covenant to His people. It is a time when the Holy Spirit of God has been given to those in Christ, enabling them to "abound in hope" through His power (Rom 15:13). Those in Christ Jesus no longer serve the Lord through regimens and disciplines, but in "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17). This is the day of "better things!"

In the world, "gold" is given a high priority. It is one of the most precious of all metals, and men have engaged in aggressive pursuits to obtain it. It is the first metal mentioned in Scripture. It was found in Havilah, a land nourished by the River Pison, one of the four rivers that came from the great river that "went out of Eden" (Gen 2:10-11). The first man of Scriptural reference said to possess much gold was Abram, who had "very much cattle, silver, and gold" (Gen 13:2). It was one of the three gifts brought to the infant Jesus by the "wise men from the East" (Matt 2:11). It is generally depicted as one of the better things of this world, and those possessing much of it are said to be rich.

However, in this "day of salvation," the value of gold has been greatly diminished. For example, Abram, later renamed Abraham, had much gold, yet never healed anyone. Peter, who confessed "silver and gold have I none," when confronting a man who had been "lame from his mother's womb," said "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." After taking hold of the man's hand and lifting him up, "immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked" (Acts 3:6-7). He had something better than gold -- more effective than gold -- something better than gold. As for Abraham, the thing for which he is noted is not his gold, but his faith. His progeny, which are as numerous as the stars of the heaven and the sand of the sea, are not characterized by the possession of gold, but by their faith (Gal 3:7).

There are several unique expressions of Scripture that declare the value of the things of God being greater and better than that of gold. These are particularly appropriate to ponder in a time when the value of a person is often measured by his financial worth.

"The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver" (Psa 119:72, NKJV). You can imagine how rapidly the news would spread of a person who found "thousands of coins of gold." Some men have even spent their lives in pursuit of such treasures. The "sweet psalmist of Israel," however, found something that was "better" that a massive golden treasure. It was the "law" of the Lord's mouth--what He said. If man really does "live by every word of God" (Luke 4:4), then the person who finds utterances coming from the mouth of the Lord is rich indeed! The soul can be sustained by those words. Hope can be born and nourished by them, and faith is sustained by them.

" . . . the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold . . . " (Psa 19:9-10). The "judgments of the Lord" are His determinations and words. They are the will of the Lord brought to pass. Those who "desire" these "judgments" walk where God is working, thriving in His presence, and benefitting from His mighty acts. In the blazing glory of these judgments, gold is reduced to insignificance.

"Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold" (Psa 119:127). If the commandments of God can be loved more than gold, you can imagine what can be said of His "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Pet 1:4). To know what God desires of us is worth more than a world of gold. To know and realize what God has promised is worth more than a galaxy of gold!

A MAN, MORE PRECIOUS THAN FINE GOLD

"I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir" (Isaiah 13:12). How is it that "a man" could be "more precious than fine," or highly refined, "gold?" The covetous of this world have killed men for their gold. But here, "a man" is viewed as more precious than gold. That is, men will forfeit gold and their quest for it to obtain "a man."

This promise is fulfilled by Jesus, who is the ultimate "Man." Isaiah said of Him, "And A MAN shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa 32:2). What person is there who would choose gold over a hiding place during a destroying wind? When faced with a life-threatening tempest, where is the person who would choose a pot of gold over a safe covering? What man stranded in a desert would choose gold over rivers of water? When isolated in a desolate land, and subjected to the blasting heat of the noonday sun, what person would choose gold over the shadow of a mighty rock?

Jesus is "the Man" that is more valuable than gold, and blessed is the person who knows this by experience! This is the day of "better things."

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for Jesus, and for the great salvation He has brought. I thank You for the value of His Person and work that makes gold and all the wealth of this world a small and insignificant thing.

-- Tomorrow: WHEN SUFFERING IS BETTER --