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Saturday, January 3, 2015

The Better Life in Jesus - victors running out the better life



Hebrews 11:39-40  "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect."

Introduction:
In this post we want to consider what the writer of Hebrews refers to here in Hebrews 11:39 as “something better for us” or what we could call “the better life”. People all the time are interested in having the so-called “good-life” – a life with no problems, plenty of money and endless possibilities. But why have the “good-life” that is a myth when you can have “the better life” from God in Jesus that is described here in Hebrews 12-13 as a reality. The Christian life in Jesus is of course “the better life” of which we speak. In the details of Hebrews 12-13 there may be parts which may not sound appealing or good, let alone “better”. However by the end of this blog series we will discover four truths about the Christian identity that demonstrates it to be “The Better Life in Jesus.” Let’s see a little bit of how it is that God has something better for us in Christ than what this world could ever offer. As Christians, we are first of all....

1. Victors running out the better life. Hebrews 12:1-4
The wonder of the Christian running the race of faith is that in Jesus Christ the victory has already been guaranteed. Romans 8:37 states: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” The victory of the better life is in realizing that we are not hostages of our past but heirs of a future eternity with Jesus Christ. 


Philippians 3:12-14 reminds us: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

As a runner, the number one motivation I have is finding the finish line. Whether running a quick lap around a track or a 5K race, the idea of "pressing on" and "leaving behind to reach forward" speaks volumes to the goals in running any race. The Christian life is not a spring but a marathon. The Christian life is God’s better life because the Christian is deemed a victor running out their victory lap. 

More tomorrow…