A Better Encouragement

Here we are at the start of a new year. Most of us have made lists of ways we want to grow, things we want to change, and goals we would like to set. Maybe you chose a word for the year, and have been brainstorming all the ways you can allow this word to influence and direct your choices in the months ahead. Perhaps you’ve joined the “This Is In + This Is Out” trend as a way of categorizing what you hope will be the priorities that define 2024 for you.

While many of the resolutions we make at the start of each year are admirable goals, they cannot achieve for us lasting encouragement and satisfaction. In fact, most of the resolutions we make are easier to reverse than they are to pursue. What if the best version of the “new you” in the new year didn’t come from losing weight, spending less money, or clearing out the clutter? What if there was a better encouragement offered to you? One that would provide lasting hope and joy and peace?

Scripture tells us that there is. This better encouragement is found in Christ. The hope that He offers doesn’t depend on our circumstances—our finances, relationship status, occupation, or opportunities. But sadly, 0ur lives usually have much more to do with building our own kingdoms than in pursuing the kingdom of God.

We may try our best to squeeze in a little bit of Jesus in the margins of our day, but by the time the house is clean, the errands have all been run, and all the events on our schedule have been attended, we are exhausted, distracted, and left with little to no desire to sit in His presence. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t start new hobbies or work out more. But if we aren’t careful we will find ourselves centering our goals in life around all the pleasure of this world instead of on the true source of our hope and joy.

If this rhythm of life sounds familiar to you, the book of Hebrews is a great place to turn to be reminded of the wonder of Jesus. While we don’t know who the author of Hebrews is, this book was likely written in the middle of the first century to Jewish Christians—Hebrews—who appear to have hit a roadblock in their faith, wondering if Jesus really is all that he is promised to be. As you read through each chapter, it becomes so clear that the author of Hebrews loves Christ. In fact, if you were to summarize all of the themes found in this New Testament book, you could tie them all together with this one phrase: Jesus is better.

• • From the first few verses we see that Jesus is better than the prophets
  • In chapters 1-2 we learn that Jesus is better than the angels.
  • Chapter 3 teaches us that Jesus is better than Moses and Joshua
  • Chapters 4 and 5 reveal that Jesus is a better high priest.
  • In chapter 6, we discover that Jesus is the better promise.
  • Hebrews 7-8 show us how Jesus is better than the Old Covenant
  • Chapter 9 teaches us that Jesus is a better tabernacle
  • And in chapter 10, we see that Jesus is a better sacrifice.

Over and over again, we learn that there is nothing more wonderful, more magnificent, or more satisfying than Jesus. He truly is better than anything else we could ever turn to, hope for, or imagine. And yet, our human tendency is run after the things of this world—chasing after temporary satisfaction and pleasure.

When we arrive at the end of Hebrews 12, we are met with a warning and a choice—a choice between two mountains.

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 
Hebrews 12:18-21

Starting off in verses 18-19, we are given a clear description of Mount Sinai, the mountain that Moses climbed in Exodus 19-20 to meet with God and receive the Ten Commandments which was the symbol of the Old Covenant system of relating to God. The storm, trumpet blast, and earthquake occurred when the people of Israel approached Mount Sinai. It was a terrifying experience, and the people were more than grateful that it was only Moses who was to meet God on the mountain.

Exodus 20:19 says, “When the people saw [the thunder, lightning, and smoke] they trembled and stood at a distance. “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”

They could not handle this overwhelming display of the power and holiness of God and trembled in fear. Mount Sinai serves as a reminder of the holiness of God. He is completely other than us. We we look at Mount Sinai we see God’s utter perfection and our utter depravity.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that to reject Christ and return to Mount Sinai, means trying to draw near to God on the basis of our own merit. But friends, that is a race you will never win. To put it simply, not one of us is good enough. We are all in desperate need of God’s grace and forgiveness every single day. We could never achieve our own salvation and joy.

The good news is, we who are in Christ no longer come to this mountain. The Old Covenant and its means of relating to God—the law and the sacrificial system—have been replaced with something better. Someone better.

As we journey through another year let us keep our eyes fixed on this hope we have been given. When our circumstances are grim and we are burdened by grief and despair, let us forsake all the fleeting and false promises that the world tries to offer us and turn to Christ instead. Dear one, Jesus is the better encouragement.