March 17th, 21

In our reading today, we see Moses on the mountain. He didn't make it into the promised land, at least not yet. He was a man of the law. And it's not by the law that we enter into the promise. But Joshua does, he enters. He represents the way of faith. righteousness is by grace through faith. And Joshua is a picture of that, he's a picture of Christ. Even his name reflects this, Yeshua, Jesus.  Our Yeshua leads us into the promised land. He leads us into life, and the promise of God, it doesn't come through the law. It comes through him through the cross, it comes through his life given for you, for me, for the whole world.

Paul calls this the wisdom of God, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus work on the cross. That's God's wisdom. It's not tradition, ethnicity. It's not political affiliation or own personal piety. It's only by God's Spirit. It's God's work. And we get to live in it. We get to say thank you and walk into the land. That's been one for us. by him. Moses goes up the mountain takes a good look around. He sees the land, but he won't enter it. At least not yet. Then we're told that he heads out into the desert. And there he dies, and is buried in some unmarked grave. But don't feel too bad for Moses. God knew where he was buried. God was with him. God never abandoned him. God doesn't do that. In fact, we see him again. In the Gospels, we see him standing with Elijah and the Lord up on the Mount of Transfiguration, no longer is he looking from a distance on Mount Pisco. Now he's standing on a whole new mountain, his feet have touched down in the land. He's made it across the Jordan. He's standing in the promise. He's face to face with the promise himself, looking into the eyes of Jesus. Jesus has worked all things out for Moses. That's what Jesus does. And that's true, not just for Moses, but it's true for you, too. God is working out his purposes in your life. Even when it seems like you've failed, and there's no recovering. He will not forget about you. He knows where you are. He has not abandoned you. And he will not leave you out in some desert wasteland in an unmarked grave. No, he will be faithful to complete the good work that he began in you and you like Moses, will see Jesus face to face Philippians one six says I am certain that God who began the good work within you will continue his work until it is finally finished. On the day when Christ Jesus returns. Trust in the wisdom of God seen in the face of Christ, rest easy in the work of Christ accomplished for you. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family for my wife, and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so

You are loved!