SOME BETTER THING by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 27, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 39.

“SOME BETTER THING.”

By T. E. Bowen

PRESENT accepted theology teaches that as soon as the saint is done with life, immediately he enters upon his heavenly reward. God says that He has provided for us who remain in the strife “some better thing” than that. If any should be enjoying their heavenly home, surely all will agree that such faithful ones as David, Gideon, Samuel, Daniel, Isaiah, Daniel’s three companions, Stephen, and those faithful ones who were sawn asunder for their faith in Christ, who were tempted, tormented, made destitute—surely such will have a glorious entrance into Christ’s everlasting kingdom, if any one is admitted. But of these God positively says they have not received their heavenly homes. “And these all, having obtained a good report [not on earth, but in heaven] through faith, received not the promise.” Heb. 11:39.

What was the “promise”?—It was a place of “inheritance,” for which Abraham went out, but, with the above class, he received it not here. It was the “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God,” to which their eyes of faith were directed. But why did they not enter their beautiful homes?—O, God wanted all His dear children to enter upon their heavenly inheritance at the same time and all together! This He calls “some better thing” than each to go alone when they die—and surely He should know.

Ponder carefully what God says in closing the record of what faith hath wrought for these chosen ones of the past: “And these all, having had witness born to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us [who are alive and remain] they should not be made perfect.” Heb. 11:39, 40, R.V.

Why fix up some other way and call that the best, “more pleasant to think upon,” etc., when God says His way of all entering the heavenly home together is the “better thing” for us? Shall we believe God, or the one who told Eve she would never die if she ate the forbidden fruit?

T. E. BOWEN.

Rome, N. Y.