10 July 2010
Psalm 20, 21; Deut. 34:1-12; Rom. 10:14-21; Matt. 24:32-51

Can you imagine what must have been going through Moses’ mind on Mount Pisgah? He had led these people for forty years and now he stands looking into the land knowing that they will soon begin to occupy it and he will not enjoy the fruit of the land and the joy of entering with them. Sin is sin and there is a price for sin. He will always be a tragic figure and not the deliverer/savior of the people. They will wait for another Messiah who will submit to Yahweh completely, not seeking His own glory in any way and doing all things according to plan. We are told in Numbers 12 that Moses was the most humble man on earth and yet even that level of humility was not enough, he took upon himself some level of credit for the work of God in providing water from the rock, and in that one moment of failing to give glory to God he disqualified himself from taking the next steps into the Promised Land. Moses never gets bitter about that and submits to the judgment of God in the matter. The people wept and mourned and then it was time to move on under the leadership of Joshua.

We know that He is coming at an unexpected hour and every generation since His ascension has believed itself to be in the last days but the world is not a bit better for that belief. Sin abounds in our day as like none other before it for all the speculation and all the sales of apocalyptic literature. How many Left Behind series books were sold and yet there is little to no evidence that they produced any increase in righteousness or even a desire for more righteousness. We are simply curious. We are called to be those who are prepared no matter how long the delay in His coming. Are we?

We can proclaim the end times or we can proclaim Christ. If no one goes and proclaims Him there will be no harvest. It is important for us to heed the call to go and make disciples and teach those whom we would baptize to obey all that Jesus has commanded, but we do so knowing the reality is that all will not believe and all who believe will not obey. We are called to be faithful and the fruit is up to Him by the power of His Spirit. Just as Moses was commanded to speak to the rock but it was the work of God to bring forth water, so we are commanded to preach the Gospel to all creatures and give glory to Him for any fruit born of that labor. Can we say that we as a people and we as individuals are being faithful to the commission we have been given?

Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.