Something Better
Much of the Bible’s narrative is centered around the journeys of individuals and groups. In those stories, a theme of redemption and purpose is commonly seen. Purpose and redemption both indicate moving from somewhere to somewhere. Purpose is defined as, “something set forward with deliberate intent”. God does not make mistakes or fret about what he is going to do next. He is omniscient and omnipotent. He knows all and holds all the power to make all things to work together to fulfill his purposes and for your good. Rom. 8:28
We see examples of God’s purposes in the lives of the Patriarchs in the Old Testament. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews rehearses some of their stories. This chapter is commonly known as the “faith” chapter and you will note that faith connects to “something better”.
The word “better” is used four times in this chapter. The Greek definition for the word better is best, stronger and nobler. Having the correct understanding of this word has significant impact in how life’s transitions are made.
It is important to note this context of “better” does not highlight something was wrong with the past. Better simply means the best is yet to come. I cherish the quote, “God is holding good things for you and not from you.” It is the truth! God is a God of purpose, His purpose.
Everyone experiences seasons in life and God alone controls those seasons. He initiates them and determines their duration. They are not intended to be permanent. Every season is designed for His purposes and introduces the next season. It is important to note that the changing of seasons does not imply that something was wrong with the past season. There is just a better purposed season coming.
The word “better” means that things will never be the same again. Have you ever returned to a home you once lived in as a child and discovered that the house is very different than what you remembered? Chances are that the house did not change, you did. Have you ever returned to the city you moved away from, only to find it’s not the same as it once was, you didn’t fit. It is not the right time or season to live there. It is still a good place to live but it’s not for you. You have changed. Trying to fit into something you can’t fit in is very frustrating. Every season has a purpose. Eccl.3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”.
There are three relevant points in Heb.11 to highlight.
Looking for the “better” requires faith in God to do what he promises. The father of the faith, Abraham in verse 10 - “was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God”. Vs. 14 – People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. Note: there is a difference between looking and seeing. Like men looking in their closet for a shirt that they cannot see. Then their wife shows up and points it out. It was there all along, but the man did not see it. Can the women say AMEN?
Seeing the “better” must take place right where you are. Vs. 13 - “They saw them and welcomed them from a distance”. Something must take root in your spirit that where you are you know is not your destiny anymore. Our hearts must let go of what was for there to be a what will be. Lift your eyes; if you are holding onto the sight of your present shore, you will never discover a new one. The new shore is better.
Longing for the better is what happens when you get a taste of what’s ahead. The present does not satisfy, not because you cannot be contented but because you have or are exhausting the grace needed for that season and you know there is a new season ahead for you. Vs. 15 – “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country”. Allow your mind to embrace the blessings of what is in front of you. Meditate on those blessings and let your faith build. Give your heart permission to long for God’s purposes. Longing embraces the “better”.
What if you can’t see clear enough to welcome or embrace what is ahead? Living by Christian principles demands faith. Faith is rooted in what we know about who God is, his nature and ways. The scripture is clear, God is good! He is the epitome of goodness. He “works all things together for our good”. Rom.8:28. That does not mean that there will not be difficult times. In those difficult times, His goodness will sustain and enlarge your faith because the “better” awaits you.
God has brought you through the difficult past seasons, and you are still here to read this devotional. You survived! He was in your past, He is in your present, and He is awaiting your arrival tomorrow. He is already there preparing things for you. You can trust Him! Your strength is growing by every step you take forward. That growth sets you up for new blessings you can’t even imagine.
Right now, God is not in heaven wringing his hands and fretting about how he is going to handle your situation. He already knows your situation better than you do and He has a good outcome planned. Trust Him! In every challenging season we gain strength needed for the next. Weathering seasons takes us one step closer to “the better and the best”.
We see examples of God’s purposes in the lives of the Patriarchs in the Old Testament. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews rehearses some of their stories. This chapter is commonly known as the “faith” chapter and you will note that faith connects to “something better”.
The word “better” is used four times in this chapter. The Greek definition for the word better is best, stronger and nobler. Having the correct understanding of this word has significant impact in how life’s transitions are made.
It is important to note this context of “better” does not highlight something was wrong with the past. Better simply means the best is yet to come. I cherish the quote, “God is holding good things for you and not from you.” It is the truth! God is a God of purpose, His purpose.
Everyone experiences seasons in life and God alone controls those seasons. He initiates them and determines their duration. They are not intended to be permanent. Every season is designed for His purposes and introduces the next season. It is important to note that the changing of seasons does not imply that something was wrong with the past season. There is just a better purposed season coming.
The word “better” means that things will never be the same again. Have you ever returned to a home you once lived in as a child and discovered that the house is very different than what you remembered? Chances are that the house did not change, you did. Have you ever returned to the city you moved away from, only to find it’s not the same as it once was, you didn’t fit. It is not the right time or season to live there. It is still a good place to live but it’s not for you. You have changed. Trying to fit into something you can’t fit in is very frustrating. Every season has a purpose. Eccl.3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”.
There are three relevant points in Heb.11 to highlight.
Looking for the “better” requires faith in God to do what he promises. The father of the faith, Abraham in verse 10 - “was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God”. Vs. 14 – People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. Note: there is a difference between looking and seeing. Like men looking in their closet for a shirt that they cannot see. Then their wife shows up and points it out. It was there all along, but the man did not see it. Can the women say AMEN?
Seeing the “better” must take place right where you are. Vs. 13 - “They saw them and welcomed them from a distance”. Something must take root in your spirit that where you are you know is not your destiny anymore. Our hearts must let go of what was for there to be a what will be. Lift your eyes; if you are holding onto the sight of your present shore, you will never discover a new one. The new shore is better.
Longing for the better is what happens when you get a taste of what’s ahead. The present does not satisfy, not because you cannot be contented but because you have or are exhausting the grace needed for that season and you know there is a new season ahead for you. Vs. 15 – “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country”. Allow your mind to embrace the blessings of what is in front of you. Meditate on those blessings and let your faith build. Give your heart permission to long for God’s purposes. Longing embraces the “better”.
What if you can’t see clear enough to welcome or embrace what is ahead? Living by Christian principles demands faith. Faith is rooted in what we know about who God is, his nature and ways. The scripture is clear, God is good! He is the epitome of goodness. He “works all things together for our good”. Rom.8:28. That does not mean that there will not be difficult times. In those difficult times, His goodness will sustain and enlarge your faith because the “better” awaits you.
God has brought you through the difficult past seasons, and you are still here to read this devotional. You survived! He was in your past, He is in your present, and He is awaiting your arrival tomorrow. He is already there preparing things for you. You can trust Him! Your strength is growing by every step you take forward. That growth sets you up for new blessings you can’t even imagine.
Right now, God is not in heaven wringing his hands and fretting about how he is going to handle your situation. He already knows your situation better than you do and He has a good outcome planned. Trust Him! In every challenging season we gain strength needed for the next. Weathering seasons takes us one step closer to “the better and the best”.
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