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Turning Points: Moses, Failure and 'Ever After' Enthusiasm can be misleading especially for ministers. It is so tempting to promote the victory of Christianity without warning of the cost: to broadcast the glory exclusive of the pain. “Become a Christian and live happily ever after,” we too quickly say but fail to explain what ever after means. Readers Digest told of two seminary students who decided to go door-to-door sharing their faith. At one house they walked through a gauntlet of screaming children and barking dogs. A tired mother opened the door. “We would like to tell you how to obtain eternal life,” they said. She hesitated then looked around for a moment before she replied, “Thank you, but no thanks. I don’t believe that I could stand it!” I don’t know of a single person who became a Christian and actually lived happily ever after. There were times of defeat and failure for them just like you and I. There are still so many days and weeks where I feel like an utter failure no matter how hard I try. I sometimes let down my family, my church and yes… I let down God. Have you felt that way? Sure you have! In the Bible you will find the experience of failure is often where God teaches unforgettable lessons. The hero’s of scripture are really ordinary human beings who become heroic because God teaches and uses them despite their flaws. Would you like an example? How about Moses? Moses? Wasn’t he God’s man who rescued his people from Pharaoh? Didn’t he part the Red Sea and receive the Ten Commandments? Wasn’t Moses Charlton Heston? As a baby, he was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as an Egyptian noble with the best education available. For the first forty years of his life… Moses literally had it made. So, what happened? “…Moses went out to visit his people,
the Israelites and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit,
he saw an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves. After looking around to
make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the
sand.” (Exodus 2:11-12) Thinking
he had won respect from his people, Moses was shocked to find he was scorned and
in a matter of days he was forced to flee for his life, an utter and complete
failure. For the next forty years, Moses would hide out in the dessert as a
lowly shepherd. Where did Moses go so wrong? 1.
He committed murder. You don’t cheat on your taxes and then give a
portion to God. 2.
Moses did it his way not God’s way. Moses looked around but he never
looked up. 3.
Spiritual leadership only comes from God so you can never just reach out
and grab it. 4.
Burying your mistakes in the sand never erases them; it only postpones
the discovery. So Moses
spent forty years in the desert contemplating his blunders and wondering what
might have been if only... Wait! This would all be depressing if we didn’t
know how it ended. But we know at the tender age of eighty, God called Moses
from a burning bush to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. This time Moses was ready
to listen and rely upon God and the rest is… history. Yes, the
life of a Christian promises exciting times on the mountaintop as well as
painful lessons learned in the desert. Maybe you’ve been there recently and
you’re still feeling the hot sand between your toes. Yet, God has not
forgotten you and may be preparing a burning bush for you. Whether you are eight
or eighty, God is never absent. Such is the real promise of “ever after.”
Andre Crouch wrote it best in a song… I’ve had many tears and sorrows. I’ve had questions for tomorrow. There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong! But in every situation, God gave blessed consolation that my trials come to only make me strong. Through it all; through it all; I’ve learned to trust in Jesus. I’ve learned to trust in God. Through it all; through it all; I’ve learned to depend upon God’s word. Other turning Points: Jacob Other Devotions: |