To Encourage You

Hebrews 6:9-10 “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

One of the common beliefs of many people today is that all beliefs about spiritual things exist on an equal plane.  The highest and most noble attribute is tolerance, for as long as a person is sincere in their beliefs, everything is good.  You have your truth, and I have mine, and as long as we’re “true” to ourselves, it’s all ok.  Isn’t that what we hear?  However, if that is so, why does the Bible talk about “better things.”  For that to be so, all things can’t be equal.  Some are better than others, and in the verse above we see this expressed in the Bible’s characteristically wonderful, understated way. 

The writer tells us that there are “better things,” but the thought here is that these things are much better.  Leading up to these verses the writer has been telling us about the ways people can be religious, yet not believe and live in the Truth of salvation.  They can know lots of things about God and the Scriptures, practice religious ceremonies, come very close to being transformed by God, and yet walk away from the ultimate Truth, which is a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  But then the writer tells us that there is a better way that is characterized by “better things,” i.e., “things that belong to salvation.” 

So, what are those things?  In what ways is the salvation that the gospel message offers to us better than other systems of belief?  Well, for one, true faith is demonstrated by works.  The Bible tells us that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).  In other words, although a person may say that they have faith, even if they claim that their faith is in the truth of the gospel, their faith is not real if there are no works to accompany it.  True faith in the gospel is of a much better nature than any other belief system because it produces a life that is fundamentally changed and produces works that glorify God.   These works are a demonstration of “the love that (believers) have shown for His (i.e., God’s) name in serving the saints.”  It is such a life that the true God takes notice of. It’s a life that God will not “overlook.” 

Jesus put it this way as He contrasted the false religion of the Pharisees that did what they did for the sole purpose of being noticed by other people, with the true faith that is noticed by God: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-6).

No, not all systems of belief are the same. Not all “religions” are on an equal plane. One is better than all others, and that one is the way of the Truth of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s only that way that the Lord will reward in the end. It’s only that way that the true God will not overlook, for He knows those who are His, and He knows those who love and worship Him in spirit and in truth.  That is the better way. In fact, it’s the only way that will not be shown to be worthless, by comparison, in the end.