“But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. “There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. “There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you. “You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes; for you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 12:5-9 NAS)
Isn’t it interesting that Moses gave these instructions so long ago, yet they are as appropriate for the 21st century Christian as they were for the Tribes Moses led.
The Israelites could not afford to be distracted from going where God was leading, yet they had every temptation to do so. God promised a future with true worship. God promised a future with a full table, a celebration, and his marvelous blessing. God promised a future resting place — a future inheritance.
This present existence is real life with a raw edge. Unequal and unfair! It continues without stopping or even slowing down. There are no holidays from the sunshine and rain — the storms of life continue unabated. On the one hand, everything can be good, joyous, and carefree. And on the other hand, it abruptly changes to heartache, trouble and sorrow.
The songwriter said it so well: “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand.” Some things are simply confusing to any thinking person. But our lives — our future — doesn’t slow down to figure out the confusion. Our lives do not stop because of the confusion. The confusion will not steal our resolve because we know who holds the future and we know who holds our hands!
We will not be distracted by these confusing elements in life. Jesus holds our hands! We refuse to allow these confusing elements in life to steal or destroy our joy. Our hope is in God! Bishop L. V. Jones wrote: “All of our todays are stepping stones to the perfect day God has promised.” And that is the key to our hope — GOD HAS PROMISED!!!
Note once again the words of Moses: “You shall not do at all what we are doing here today.” In this life — 2011 — we may shed a few tears, experience a little sorrow, and go to some funerals, but in our promised future there are none of those things. In our promised future, God will give us an inheritance. God has promised.
Dear Father, thank you for our future. Empower us with the spiritual fortitude to go forth in the power of your might. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous because God has promised,