It’s easy to get consumed with “the day.” Easy for all our mental energies to be sucked into the vortex of trying to figure out this “current cultural moment.”

But this morning I’m reminded that I need to step back and take a bigger view of “this day.” Not a “this week” view, or a “this year” view, but a much, much bigger view. And when I do that, then my thoughts are consumed with the reminder that God has “provided something better for us.”

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

(Hebrews 11:39-40 ESV)

“All these” are Abel, Enoch, and Noah. They are Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. They are Moses, his parents, and those he led across the Red Sea. They are those who marched around Jericho, and the harlot who was spared at Jericho.

They are Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. They are those who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight, and received back their dead by resurrection.

They were also those who were tortured, mocked, flogged, enchained and imprisoned. Those who were stoned, sawn in two, and killed with the sword. Those who went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. Those “of whom the world was not worthy.”

“All these” are those of Hebrews 11:1-38.

But not one of these, “even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised” (Heb. 11:39 MSG). ‘Cause it wasn’t gonna happen apart from us. Not because we are anything special, but because of what we are part of.

We are part of “this day” — not meaning today, nor this week, nor this year — but this day ushered in 2,000 years ago when Jesus came proclaiming “the gospel of God”, that the “time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mk. 1:14-15). This day in which it has been revealed to us how a holy and just God can dwell among an unholy people. This day when we understand how the chains of sin are broken and how the fear of death is defeated. This day when we know the source of lasting righteousness and the assurance of eternal salvation. This day when the way to realizing the fullness of the promise has been revealed. This day which has shown the means by which all of God’s people — past, present, and future — will be made perfect. This day which is under the shadow of the finished work of the cross, and in the glow of an empty tomb — the final puzzle pieces enabling God to complete the work of gathering to Himself a people. This day when God has spoken to us by His Son (Heb. 1:2).

“All these”, though commended through their faith were waiting for “this day”, the day we are a part of.

That’s “the day” I am entering into. The day my mental reserves should be consumed with. The day “a great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) has been waiting for. The day of God’s promises made possible.

Apart from us they should not be made perfect . . . because of “this day”. This wondrous, glorious day of salvation.

A day by God’s grace. A day for God’s glory.

Amen?