There are many today who would more than likely agree that our culture is frustrating, to say the least! Take marriage, sanctity of life, government, politics…it’s overwhelming if you stop and think about it too much. BUT, it’s in this moment–this season–that our PASSION must be white-hot, and our MISSION laser-focused…
SO, THE QUESTION IS…WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?
THERE was a man in the Bible who faced a similar situation. He was born some 400 years after his family had migrated from the land of Canaan to the land of Goshen in Egypt. His family had grown from 70 to in the millions, but were now slaves–forced to labor by an evil ruler. The probability of a first-born male living past 1 years old was close to 0%–they were simply killed by being thrown into the river to reduce this people group’s population. AND SO, when this man was born, his mom in an act of hopeful desperation sent him down the Nile River in a wicker-basket. AND in the ironic providence of God, the very daughter of this evil ruler, Pharaoh, plucked him from the water…and raised him in royalty for 40 years in luxury and ease—all the while his people suffered and wasted away in slavery!
FAST FORWARD—HE’S NOW 80 years old! He has since fled the courts of luxury in Pharaoh’s house as a fugitive for murdering in cold-blood. And he has now been sojourning as a shepherd in Midian for 40 years. Could this man have easily felt useless and simply washed-out?! BUT, it is there as an old shepherd that he comes across a peculiar scene…a bush is on fire, but it is not being consumed in flames! AND GOD says to this man, “...Moses, Moses!” And he [Moses] said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Exodus 3:4-5
It was there that GOD GAVE Moses a MISSION–to redeem His people Israel from slavery and to take them to the promised land of Canaan! Did Moses face insurmountable odds in his culture? EVEN from the people of Israel? Did he have reason to throw up his hands in frustration? YES! BUT, he pressed on! With white-hot passion & laser-focus he fulfilled the mission that God gave him!
SO, HOW DOES THIS STORY APPLY TO US?
Let me put it this way…WHAT IS YOUR MISSION in life?
Can you define it in one sentence? What would your wife (or husband) say is your mission in life? your co-worker? your children? your neighbors? If you’re like me 10 years ago, you simply can’t define it in one sentence. I was climbing the ladder of Goldman Sachs after graduating from my masters at A&M, and I was struck with the tunnel vision of tantalizing success and man-pleasing. I was a Christian, but my passion was not white-hot for the mission of God. AND, I fear that is the case with many today. You are good…you attend church and Bible studies…but you are clueless as to the mission of God… THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD, but is that all you want to show as you stand before the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS?!!!
THE BETTER QUESTION, THEN IS: WHAT IS THE MISSION OF GOD?
A KING left the courts of heaven 1,400 some years after Moses—BUT not as a fugitive or a sojourner, rather as the true Redeemer and good Shepherd! THIS KING lived a perfect life…died a grisly and gruesome death in ignominy upon a wooden cross as an enemy of the state, abandoned by His closest friends, but it was there that He satisfied the wrath God resulting from mankind’s sin. IN so doing, He payed the penalty for your sins by dying in your place. Your sin deserved death, but He paid for it with His. God has accepted His life as a substitute for the life you would offer Him in order for you to be right with Him. Thus, you have the opportunity to be rescued from His WRATH, and to be reconciled into His FELLOWSHIP. This fellowship is a restoration from the fellowship that was lost in Eden, and is offered to you by grace through faith. What does that mean, this is you simply transferring your trust from yourself to Him in order to have a right standing with God! This is the mission of God!
WHAT is the MISSION of GOD? To redeem a rebellious and sinful mankind to Himself through Christ…
THUS, YOUR MISSION is to redeem a rebellious mankind by simply sharing the good news with people, and stating that Jesus died in their place paying the penalty for their sin—and they need to believe in faith that this is true! ARE YOU caught up in THE MISSION OF GOD?
If you’re a stay-at-home mom…a plumber…a doctor…a teacher…an accountant…a minister… HOW CAN you FULFILL the MISSION OF GOD in your sphere of influence?
It’s never too late…Moses was 80 years old when God called him to fulfill His mission…
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
— March 4, 2016