Eternal Rewards: Faith, Courage, and Preparation in God

In reflecting on the life of Moses, we are reminded that the true reward for following God is not found in this world. Moses chose to align himself with the mistreated people of God, which led him to a life in the desert with ungrateful followers. His reward was not earthly, and similarly, following Jesus and taking up the cross does not promise worldly rewards. [00:19:06]

Faith factors in eternity. Following Jesus does mean taking up a cross now; there's always a cost, but it doesn't end there. The cross for Jesus led to his glorious resurrection, and right now he is seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, and one day, all who follow him will share in his reward. [00:20:42]

Moses saw through the world with its fleeting treasures and pleasures, and by faith, he factored in eternity. That's why he was able to embrace the cross at the cost of leaving the palace and taking his stand with the mistreated people of God. If you're going to follow after the Lord Jesus Christ, you're going to have to do the same. [00:22:36]

By faith, Moses left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. This is about Moses' courage and about his perseverance, and we're going to see that that came because of faith. [00:24:40]

Moses thought that what he had done was completely hidden, that no one had seen it, but the act had been seen, and the scripture tells us that when Pharaoh heard about it, he sought to kill Moses. So in a single day, Moses went from being a favored son of the palace to being a hunted fugitive of the king. [00:26:05]

Moses was not ready. I mean, here's a man who clearly had a violent temper. He had not yet learned self-control. What damage might have been done if Moses had assumed leadership over the people of God at the age of 40? No, Moses wasn't ready. He needed to master himself. [00:29:21]

The worst thing that can happen to a man is to have success before he is ready. Very perceptive. Kendall says it was the wisest advice he ever gave me. The worst thing, the worst thing that can happen to a man or to a woman is to have success before he or she is ready. [00:30:34]

Moses spent the next 40 years in the desert, and there God taught him to master himself, and the man who had had the violent temper became a man whose scripture tells us became known as the meekest of people. You'll find that in Numbers chapter 12 and verse 3. [00:31:00]

Moses knew that his time had not yet come, but he also knew that his time would come. So by faith, he left Egypt in order to prepare himself for the work that God would give him to do. I believe that God has a future for me. I'm going to prepare myself for the work that one day he will give me to do. [00:31:48]

Moses endured when everything was against him. God's people were against him, Pharaoh was against him, I've no doubt his own conscience was against him, but Moses dared to believe that God was for him, and he endured as seeing him who is invisible. [00:34:49]

Moses trusted God as if he could see him, as if he could see him right there next to him. That's what faith does. Faith reckons on this wonderful reality that God is right here next to you. I have set the Lord always before me, and because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [00:36:20]

Moses, at this point in the story, now verse 28, he has spent 40 years in preparation for ministry. This is the man who would do miracles, this is the man who God would use to form and to lead an entire nation, and this man says I am a sinner in need of a savior. [00:38:55]