Why Settle For Second Best?

Read Hebrews 1:1-14

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets
at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he
has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all
things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son
is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation
of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  So he
became as much superior to the angels as the name
he has inherited issuperior to theirs.”
(Hebrews 1:1-4)

Thoughts… In the Old Testament era, God primarily used the prophets, the law of Moses, and angelic beings to deliver his word to people. But they weren’t the A-team, and their work was only the pre-game warm-up, so to speak. God never intended what he commissioned them to deliver to be the be-all-to-end-all. God had a plan.

God was bringing humanity along with the idea that at the proper time (Paul calls it “the fullness of time” in Galatians), he would send his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the ultimate and final revelation of Father God to the peoples of earth. When Jesus was born, the law, the prophets and the angels would step aside—they’re assignment was over. The Revelation was here. When he finished the work of redemption on the cross, the Son sat down at the Father’s right hand—the work was truly done.

So when Jesus came along, his revealed who the Father was, what the Father was like, how the Father had worked his plans in eternity past, was working in time present and would work in eternity future, and who could become a joint-heir with the Son of the Father’s inheritance.

In other words, Jesus “the Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. (Verse 3) When you know the Son, you know the Father. When you’ve received Jesus, you’ve received God. Jesus is it—he is all—he is the very best and there is no other!

So here’s the deal: Why would you want to go back into Old Testament law and live by it to gain right standing with God? It was only holding things together until the real deal arrived in Jesus Christ? Why base your faith on Old Testament prophetic utterances? They’re only pointing to a New Testament reality that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And for heaven’s sake, why would you need angelic visitations to tell you what to do or to make you feel somehow spiritually superior? They are inferior to what God has already given in Jesus Christ.

When you’ve got Jesus, you’ve simply got the best. That’s the message of Hebrews—that Jesus is superior, all sufficient for your life and for your eternity!

So why settle for second best?

Prayer… Jesus, you are my all in all. Apart from you I have nothing, but in Jesus, I have everything I need. I fall at your feet and worship—you are everything to me!

One More Thing… “Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again.” —George Whitefield