Monday, April 4

Finish strong

Scripture: Deuteronomy 33-34, Romans 7

Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him.

Observation

Deuteronomy 32 ends with the Lord telling Moses to climb Mt. Nebo and look across the Jordan at the Promised Land—he could see it from afar but not enter it.  “Then,” the Lord said, “you will die and join your ancestors.” 

So Moses climbed the mountain and looked…and died.  Then this postscript: Moses was 120 years old yet his eyes were not weak and his vitality (strength) had not left him.  This doesn’t sound like a dying man!  What’s going on?

I think that Moses had done all that God wanted and asked him to do—his task was complete.  So even though he was healthy and strong, the Lord took him home.  Well done good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your master.  

God had told Moses that he couldn’t enter the Promised Land “for both of you (Moses and Aaron) broke faith with me among the Israelites at the Waters of Meribath-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin by failing to treat me as holy in their presence.” (Dt 32:51).  Looked at negatively, the time had come to enter the Promised Land and Moses was still alive, strong and healthy.  He was in the way.  It was time to go.  

Application

Obviously, I never want to be in the way, an impediment to God’s people moving forward!  I realize that as you get older, it’s easy to get stuck in your ways.  I never want to be the old person who is stubbornly resisting change and keeping God’s work from moving forward.  

On the positive side, I want to finish my assignment, do what the Lord set out for me to do.  

Jesus said at the end of His life: “I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do.” (John 17:4). And on the cross, His final cry of triumph was, “It is finished.”  Before He died, Jesus knew He had finished the work God gave Him to do.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6–7).  Before he died, Paul knew that he had finished the work God gave him to do.

I want to be able to say the same.  Right now, I’m still clarifying what the Lord wants me to do in this gun lap!  I want to finish strong!

Prayer: Lord, show me what You want me to do, what my best contribution is at this stage in my life—Your assignment for me.  Then help me to do it with all my heart!