If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV)
Medical practitioners have often wondered why sick patients who seem to be recovering fast from an ailment just suddenly and unexpectedly die. They soon came to the realization that one of the things that keep sick patients alive, even when their bodies are weak and seem to be shutting down, is “hope”, and that when they choose to give up hope, they cannot survive a day. It is the same in Christian life and experience. Hope is one of the main things that keep people who believe in God going in the face of a lot of uncertainty, bad situations, and bad things, like an economic meltdown and sickness.
When you look at Christianity only from the perspective of time, it does not really make sense. How does the carnal, natural try to process and understand God’s dealings with Moses, an Egyptian Prince next in line to take over from Rameses as the Pharaoh of Egypt. Suddenly, after his encounter with God, he threw away his pedigree, palatial life in the palace, gorgeous and princely royal duties and treatment to become a deliverer of God’s people who tended sheep and lived in the backside of the desert? The writer of the book of Hebrews gives us some insight into the mind of Moses when he makes a profound remark that, “… for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:24–27).
Hebrews 11:24-27 (KJV)
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
The same is true of the Christian life. As the true believer in the hope of eternity, the joy of the Celestial City and the world to come, lives in self-denial, endures hardships and reproaches by an act of his will, like Moses. He chooses to live contrary to the ways of contemporary culture by not living for the transient and temporal cravings and gratifications of the flesh at the expense of eternity.
It is crucial to have it ingrained in your mind that Christianity does not solve only the problems of time, if it does, it is a massive failure. Hence, the believer has a hope of glory that is in the future and that goes beyond time into eternity (Colossians 1:27).
Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
The writer of the book of Hebrews states very clearly that Moses took this decision “when he was come years” by refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. The phrase “come to years” meant when he was “mature”. This shows that Moses’ decision didn’t stem from a rash, emotional, or sentimental one, but a decision he took by an act of his will, after he had counted the cost of the decision to his life, prestige, status, pedigree, and future. Considering Moses’ decision logically only from the perspective of time, it does not make any sense, but he knew that he could not deny that he saw “The invisible One.”
Looking at all he lost and had to go through after taking this decision, one would almost consider him to be a fool, but a quick trip to the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation says otherwise. You’ll see that Moses, when he had respect for the recompense of the reward, was privy to seeing the Judgment Seat of Christ. He knew that all he needed to do was to deny himself the temporary, fleeting pleasures of sin in Egypt, live in the will of God for the rest of his life, and he would have a great eternal reward in heaven on the prize giving day. And that even the triumphant saints that have been victorious over the beast, his image, mark, and number of his name after the great tribulation from all ages will even have to sing “the song of Moses” the servant of the Lord side by side with the Song of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 15:2-3).
Revelation 15:2-3 (KJV)
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God And the sung the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of the saints.
What a wonderful privilege for Moses to have his name immortalized in this way in heaven!
Indeed, the apostle Paul’s remark is indeed profound when he remarked “that if in this life we only have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable”.
You should ponder on these solemn and searching thoughts.
Have a wonderful day!
