But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6 NIV).

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Many thousand years ago, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with two tablets of stone. Written upon the stones were ten commandments inscribed by God himself. These commandments established ethical instructions on how to live the life God intends us to live. Layering upon these commandments, other laws were soon bequeathed that further attempted to make the impossible possible. After thousands of years of following and fine-tuning these laws, the truth was unmistakable: it was impossible for man to do what God required. Our unresolved sin was too great.

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If we the people were ever to be truly atoned with God, a new covenant was needed, and God knew this. In His perfect timing, He set in place that covenant in the form of a newborn babe on a cold night in Bethlehem: Jesus. Since man failed to come to God, God came to man.

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What the laws could not achieve in thousands of years, Jesus did in a short 30. Through His ministry and sacrifice on the cross, man was given the perfect gift he'd strived in vain to attain. Through Jesus, we are reconciled with God. The old covenant based on the law written on tablets of stone was replaced by something superior – a covenant of grace, mercy, and forgiveness written by God into our hearts of flesh.

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How much superior this covenant is! Through Jesus, we are justified. Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Through Jesus, God is able to see us once again as He created us. Remember the Ten Commandments? Through Jesus, these are now attainable. Is this covenant superior? Imagine a world where every one of those commandments is obeyed by everyone. It's mind-boggling to comprehend, so let's make it simpler.

Let's pick just one commandment and think of a world where it was obeyed by everyone. For this exercise, I'll pick, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16). Imagine your world if no one lied, ever. Would that make your life better? Imagine...

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There'd be no need for a court system. Crimes could still be committed, but if asked, the perpetrator would truthfully say, “Yes, I did it.” Justice could then be fairly applied to fit the crime. And if people knew they would get caught, wouldn't that deter many crimes in the first place?

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Our monetary system would be much simplified. Imagine the reduction of stress in our lives if scams and fraud would be easily identified.

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Imagine the transparent government we'd have if all our elected representatives provided truthful representation.

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You'd know exactly what kind of person you are. There'd be no hiding it. Your friends would tell you. Though the truth may be harsh, it's honest. And from an honest foundation, you could choose what kind of person you wanted to be.

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Men and women would benefit from honest communication. Marriages would be based on trust, and from that, many marriages would grow. Not that marriages couldn't fail, but a marriage based on honest communication has a better chance of prospering.

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Families would be stronger. If the marriage is stronger, then as a direct result, the family is stronger. Children could enjoy closer relationship with their parents and parents with their children.

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These are just a few examples my feeble mind can conjure. You can do much better. As a fun exercise, I invite you to pick one commandment and imagine your life if everyone obeyed it. Here's a quick commandment review from Exodus 20:

1. Thou shalt not have any other gods before God.

2. Thou shalt not make yourself an idol.

3. Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain.  

4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and mother.

6. Thou shalt not murder.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not lie.

10. Thou shalt not covet.

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Now, doesn't that make your world a better place in which to live? Now, imagine all of them being obeyed, always, by everyone. Jesus makes that possible. Be comforted to know that day is coming, for it will be on Earth as it is now in Heaven (Rev. 21:1-4). Your life will soon be much better because, a couple thousand years ago, God became man. He established a new covenant based on better promises. He replaced laws written in stone with redemption appearing in the flesh. The new covenant is superior to the old covenant. Thanks be to God!

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“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

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Amen, come Lord Jesus.