Who In The World Does This?

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:24-25

I’ve heard more than a few stories of people who come into a great deal of money and choose to leave their small-town acquaintances, and even their family behind, to live in the better part of town.  They are ashamed to associate with those who represent their humble beginnings.  But Moses?  He flips this on its head and does the exact opposite.  He leaves his life of privilege.  He publicly nullifies his adoption into the royal family and chooses to associate instead with a nation of slaves.

The writer of Hebrews wanted us to know that Moses did this when he was grown up.  Why is that important?  Because he was not young, naïve, or gullible.  He was forty years old; mature, well-educated, full of knowledge and experience.  He changed his life and identity in the most profound way possible in the prime of his life.  Who does this?  Who leaves honor and privilege to embrace a nation of outcasts?  Only one who has encountered God.  Moses, upon learning He was Jewish, could have considered it bad news and something to grieve.  But when he met God at the burning bush, a lot more happened than him getting a new mission.  He got a new heart.

It’s amazing what people do when their heart has been changed by an encounter with Christ.  Brilliant doctors with lucrative practices have given them up to go to the missionfield to build mission post hospitals.  College professors have given up tenure at major universities in order to go to seminary to become pastors.  Young women have given up the love of their life in order to go into fulltime ministry as single people.  Such choices make no sense at all to a world who watches.  It appears that they have thrown their life away, and for what?!  But they are living examples of the story Jesus told about hidden treasure.  The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.  Matthew 13:44

Jesus is the treasure.  Before discovering Him, we live with priorities and affections diverted elsewhere.  We value what the world values and we fit in.  Jesus turns it all upside down when He reveals Himself and opens our eyes to His glory.  Nothing and no one can equal His worth.  We become His peculiar people, choosing to be outcasts, singing all the way home as love-sick worshipers.

I am the singer of a new song about the real King in the only kingdom that matters.  Thank you!  Amen