Driving along Hwy 49 to Charlotte one day, I was drawn in to a catchy song on the radio that I’d never heard before.  So I focused in to listen to the words.

I never met you, but I know you’re out there
If I cross the oceans, would you be there?

A stranger’s eyes that somehow look familiar
I know that when it’s you, I’ll remember
Remember

So wait for me, I swear I’ll find you
Climbing every wall that hides you
I know we were meant for something better
So wait for me, the world is changing
Underneath, the ground is shaking
You and I were meant for something better
Better, oh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ4AVNjb_EM

A glance down at the broadcast info on my radio told me it was by Audien with Lady Antebellum.  What really struck me was the line “You and I were meant for something better”.  After I looked up the lyrics when I got home, I realized that I definitely agree with them but not in the way that they meant this phrase.

Since I’ve been leading a Bible study on Hebrews this fall, as I listened to the song, my mind quickly went to that book of the Bible where the word “better” is used 13 times.  In a way, the author sums up a lot of his point of the book when he says in            Hebrews 11:40 “God had provided something better for us”.

The book of Hebrews was, of course, written to a group of Christians who had been Jews before coming to understand and embrace the gospel.  They are undergoing persecution (and not for the first time) and apparently are tempted to quit which for them means going back to Judaism.  So the author lays out a masterful argument showing how Jesus is “better” than anything in the Old Testament and how, ultimately, the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant.  In Jesus, God has provided “something better” for us.  The author urges them to persevere, to not go back to what is easy and miss what is “better” in the process.

“You and I were meant for something better” sings Audien and Lady Antebellum.  I think this phrase resonates so strongly with us for a couple of reasons.  One is that, deep inside of us, we know there is something better.  We were literally created for that.  Human beings were originally made for Paradise but, because of sin, we all live in a fallen world which leaves us knowing inside that something isn’t right and wanting “something better”.  Those of us who know Christ will eventually fully experience that when we are in Heaven – what we were really made for.

Another reason I think the phrase strikes us deeply is because there are times in life when we are stuck with something that isn’t what we hoped it would be.  Maybe it’s a relationship.  Maybe it’s a job.  Maybe it’s our social life.  So we remind ourselves that we were meant for “better” to motivate us to go find it and not settle for less.

“You and I were meant for something better.” As Christians I think it’s a good reminder.  Think of all that Jesus has provided for us.  Grace.  Forgiveness.  Peace.  Joy.  Transformation.  Direct access to God.  Freedom.  And so much more.
And yet, so many times I settle for less.  For example:

• I refuse to forgive myself for sin when I’ve already been forgiven because of Christ.
• I stress out and worry instead of trusting Him and experiencing His peace that surpasses understanding.
• I criticize myself for not meeting my standards instead of giving myself grace when I fail.
• I give up hope of ever changing when He has made me a new creation and given me His Holy Spirit.
• I miss out on the joy of serving Him because I don’t think He can ever use me when He has already prepared good works beforehand for me to do.
• I burden myself with legalism instead of enjoying my freedom and acceptance in Christ.

Jesus died to give me better than that!  We are “meant for something better”.  Thankfully God has provided all of it – both here on earth and for eternity – through Christ.  I don’t want to let fear or doubt or discouragement or hopelessness or lack of faith cause me to miss out.  I don’t want to settle for less than all God has provided for me.  Instead I want to take hold of it by faith day by day, moment by moment.