God's Glory Church

Put yourself for a moment in the shoes of your favorite Old Testament character. Imagine how you would feel if you were David, Esther, Daniel…

How close they were to God! How He accompanied and used them! Well, wouldn’t it be great to become one of them? Perhaps you would like to change your own relationship with God to the one they had? If yes, then I strongly disagree with you. “Strongly disagree?” Yes, that’s right.

I would not in a million years agree to change my relationship with God to the one that David had. Or Esther. Or Daniel’s. In general, for any character in the Old Testament. I much prefer what I have now. How arrogant! How daring!

I hope my words made you flinch and, perhaps, even slightly indignant. This was my goal. I believe it is time for the church to wake up and realize what a blessing we have today on this side of the cross.

You all know the stories of the great heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses… Through the author of this letter, God speaks of their dedication, sacrifice and obedience in following His ways. These heroes were mocked, imprisoned, and even stoned to death for their faith.

Have you gone through similar trials? Have you shown the same dedication as these people? Most likely the answer is “no.” Then how can you have a better relationship with God than they had?

Before answering how, let’s look at what the heroes of faith actually had and what we have. Speaking of Old Testament believers, the author of Hebrews notes: “And all these, which were testified to faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

Such dedication, such devotion – but what do we learn about these heroes? They did not receive what they were promised, and we on this side of the cross have something better that they never had.

But what is our superiority? Has God changed? Of course not. God is the same as He always was. In this case, why exactly are our days so different from the past two or more thousand years ago?

It’s all about the New.

Today Christians revere Jesus Christ as their High Priest, but according to the law, Jesus in this role is complete nonsense. Then, on what basis do we call Him our High Priest today? If the line of the priesthood has changed, then the entire system of relationships with God must be replaced. This is exactly what happened. The whole system has changed!

Christians readily agree that Jesus is their Priest, but not everyone understands that by accepting Jesus as their priest they enter into a contract, an agreement, a covenant with God. Contrary to the old covenant that God set forth through Moses, the new one will never be abolished. He is the final word on man’s relationship with God. Jesus Christ is the author and guarantor of something completely new and revolutionary.

“Therefore He is the mediator of the new covenant, so that through His death, which was for redemption from the transgressions committed in the first covenant, those who are called to an eternal inheritance may receive the promise.” (Hebrews 9:15)

Something completely new was born. God always intended to establish something radically different. This Bible passage shows that the New is unlike anything seen before and that it solves a serious problem: our inability to remain faithful. Whatever this New thing is, it somehow motivates people to remain faithful even when their own strength fails them.

In chapter 11, the apostle lists the spiritual exploits of the holy people of the Old Testament. They did all this, fueled only by faith in God and the expectation of the Messiah – the Savior of the world. But during their earthly life they did not see the Savior, they did not receive the grace of God, which saves man from sin and death.

“BecauseGod has provided something better for usso that they would not reach perfection without us.” (Hebrews 11:40)

The Apostle Paul here compares the ascetics of the faith who put all their strength, their whole lives into serving God – and “us”, ordinary people. And in this comparison the apostle reveals to us an amazing joy: “we” are not left aside. Unfortunately, we often judge God by ourselves. Therefore (and only for this reason) it seems to us that the reward – life in the face of the Almighty – can only be received by those who have earned it through unimaginable labor. This explains the rejection of Christ by the Jews, this explains the shocking surprise of the parable of the eleventh hour workers. This explains our daily focus on special “spiritual” exercises to the detriment of communication with God and serving people. But God, as the Apostle Paul says, has provided something better for us.

Life, says the apostle, is not given to those who deserve it – it is given to those who suffer from its absence. And as eleventh-hour workers, we need to make the best effort we can to accept it. Be obedient to God and accept the best that He has provided for us.

After all, we have already seen this day, we live in it, and have everything for communication with God, we are the spiritual heirs of the saints of the Old Testament, because in our lives what God promised them was fulfilled, their faith in us was fulfilled.