"For God had something better in mind for us..." Hebrews 11:40a
Have you ever been upgraded to first class on a flight? I have only had this happen to me once. First class was better! There are times in life when we are set to experience one thing and another, something better, thing happens. An upgrade to first class, a free appetizer, or a complimentary beverage. It's always fun to experience the something better.
This is what I love about he eleventh chapter of Hebrews. The author helps us understand there is something better. The chapter is filled with the heroes of the Old Testament who by faith accomplished great things. The author says that even though they had great faith and accomplished much they never received the fullness of God's promise. They would, but not yet.
The author of Hebrews tells us that these heroes of the faith did not receive it all because "God had something better in mind for us." The something better is Jesus and the New Covenant. The something better is the cross and the promise that was after the pain. The resurrection that followed the crucifixion. The New Covenant is the something better. Jesus is the something better.
As followers of Jesus Christ we live everyday in the reality of something better. Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection bring us something better. When the problems of life are getting you down turn to something better. In the eyes of the old song, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."
I can't wait to share more about this with you Sunday. See you in church.