Something Better Is Coming

YUMMY!!!

I read a story one time about a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given three months to live.  Being a strong and independent woman she began to make plans for her physical death.  She called her preacher and they sat down and discussed scriptures, songs, and specials she wanted in her funeral.  The preacher feeling all was done had a prayer and began to leave.  The woman asked if she can make one last request.  The preacher obviously welcomed the request and she said, "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.  When you eat at a restaurant and they take your plates away they leave a fork because something better is coming.  I'm not referring to Jello or pudding, but something good like cake or ice cream.  I know as I leave this old and run down body, something better is coming."  The preacher with a tear in his eye tipped his hat and said, "You got it and thank you for teaching me a great lesson!"

I hope we all have that approach to our time on this earth.  As Christians, our true blessings will be in heaven where we receive our inheritance of the resurrection, not on this earth. 1Pe 1:3,4  We have such a great God that He gives us a blessing in the Holy Spirit to let us know something better is coming.    

Consider Eph 1:13,14, these verses say we're "sealed" with the Holy Spirit which is the "guarantee" of our inheritance.  To important words we will quickly look at today.  

First, the word translated sealed.  The root word of sealed means to stamp.  This word literally means to set a seal upon; mark with a seal to indicate security.  Something would be sealed for one of three reasons and the Holy Spirit accomplishes all three.

1.   Guarantee genuineness.  Rom 8:16 The Spirit “bears witness” that we are children of God!

2.   A mark of ownership- Rom 8:9  The indwelling Holy Spirit is evidence that we are truly Christ’s

3.   Protect against tampering or harm- Rom 8:13 It’s “by the spirit” you and I can “put to death the deeds of the body.”  

Second, the word translated guarantee.  This is a word adopted from the Phoenicians by the Greeks that meant a pledge or earnest money.  It references a down payment that the full amount will be paid.  The Holy Spirit is a deposit in our hearts!  2Co 1:22 The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of what God has prepared for us and something better is coming.  The BLESSING of the Holy Spirit working in our lives is only a foretaste of what awaits those who are adopted into God’s family Gal 4:6,7, redeemed and received the forgiveness of sins through the blood of God’s Son 1Pe 3:21, and awaiting the inheritance we receive in heaven! 1Pe 1:3,4

The Holy Spirit is like having a fork in our right hand as we operate in our daily lives here on this earth.  It is important that we are sealed in the Holy Spirit so we have God's guarantee of something better that is coming.  Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit?  Acts 2:38 tells us we receive the "gift of the Holy Spirit" when we are immersed into the watery grave of Christ's death. Rom 6:4  Today, I pray you have the seal and guarantee that something better is coming for you! 

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Hear The Word-  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We Must Believe or Have Faith-  Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We Must Repent-  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We Must Confess Christ Before Others-  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We Must Be Immersed Into Christ (Baptized)-  1Pe 3:21; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38  

We Must Remain Faithful-  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22