The Weight of the Word

AN IMPORTANT DECISION

  I want to read a few verses of scripture from the eleventh chapter Hebrews beginning with verse 24, reading through verse 27. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." I want to call your attention in particular to the last statement in the 26th verse, "He had respect unto the recompense of the reward. I am persuaded to believe today that if more people would have respect unto the recompense of the reward in the future we would have a far better world to live in today. We are most all acquainted with the story of Moses when he was a baby, how his mother hid him for three months from the king and then after three months placed him in an ark of bulrushes and set him adrift in the river PharaohÕs daughter came strolling along the river and found this ark and the little babe; she decided immediately adopt this little boy as her own child, and for a nurse she hired Moses own mother, under her teachings, under the influence of her prayers, and during [Page 39] that period of time Moses' mother instilled the teachings of her God into the heart of her boy. She instilled the teachings so deep into his heart that when he came years and to the age of accountability, to a time when a decision must be made for God or against God, the, teachings were the things that held Moses in the path of rectitude at that time. The first thing I want you notice in the lesson that I have read to you is the fact that Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. The treasures and the riches of Egypt could not buy Moses; there was something deeper in the heart of Moses something of such value that had been instilled in his heart by his mother that all the pleasures of sin, the riches of Egypt and even adoption into the royal family didnÕt mean anything to Moses. He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God and to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the pleasures and all the treasures that Egypt could afford him. I can imagine Moses as he walked out one day and at the end of the King's palace looked down across the plains of Egypt an he saw a little city of tents. In those tents lived his own, kindred and his own people, slaves to the nation in which he lived in the palace of the King. As he stood looking out over that scene of those little humble tents, there was, something down deep in his heart that got hold of Moses and he began to think of his own kindred and his own people under bondage. He living in, the palace and his people living in tents. As he looked over that scene, I can imagine the tears began to trickle down his cheeks; an he began to ponder in his own mind as to what decision he would make. Moses stood at the fork of the road; he stood there face to face with a decision for or against God [Page 40]  He had to go with God and his people or against God and his people. After pondering the question in his mind, he turned and walked back into the palace. As he crossed, the threshold of the door, he made a decision down in his heart that "I would rather live in tents with my own people; I would rather suffer affliction with the people God; I'd rather live among my own people than to have all that Egypt can offer me." He made that decision as he thought of his mother's prayers and his mother's teachings. Then it was that mother reaped her reward when her son made his decision for God and for the things of God. Why did Moses make such a decision? Why was it that the pleasures of sin could not influence Moses more than they did? In the eyes of the world Moses made fool's choice, but he was not choosing for time: he was choosing for eternity. Sense chooses in the light of the present, but faith chooses in the light eternity. The text that I read to you answers the question as to why Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the pleasures of sin. And that question is answered in this 26th verse, "For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Moses saw the end of both lives, and he chose rather to serve God and to suffer the reproach of Christ than to revel on in sin. Beloved, as we ponder this question in our minds today, I ask you now to think along with Moses. Not only, did Moses make this decision, but you are facing the same decision Moses did. Perhaps some of you have already made that decision; others will face it in the future; perhaps some of you right now are thinking about the hereafter and about the end of your life if you continue to live just as you are living right now. Moses [Page 41] looked out to the end of the way, and he saw it would be far better to serve God and to suffer with GodÕs children than to live on in sin. You are on the auction block today friend; the devil is bidding high for your soul; he is bidding high for your life. Life stretches itself out before us today. Satan offers you many pleasures; he entice your soul to follow in the paths of sin and to revel on the paths of ungodliness, and he promises you many things, beloved, but may I say to you today that nothing he offers is as precious as your eternity-bound soul. Yes, you look out upon life today; it promises you many things. Satan promises you a high social standing in your community if you will just follow in line with his crowd and go along with the crowd. But you know, when Moses made a decision, he stepped from the highest social position in that nation down to the very lowest position in that nation; it was a great step for Moses to make, but he saw the reward that lies in the future for every soul. In the world today social position isn't something to be scoffed at. Millions are selling their souls for a little social prestige today; men and women are giving up their hopes of eternity, turning away from God and away from the gospel just to have someone speak good words about them in the community, just to have someone pat them on the back. But, beloved, it will not amount to very much on the day of judgment, what men may think of you. What men may say about you will not amount to a thing on the day of judgment. On that day it will be, what does my Lord think of me, and how did I live back in yonder world? As you ponder this question in your mind, friend, I ask you to think seriously today. I would to God I could persuade you to make the same [Page 42] decision Moses made. There are many pleasures in sin. I wouldnÕt deny that, because the Bible says there are pleasures in sin. I want to read a verse of scripture found in 2nd Peter 2:13. Peter is talking about folk who are desirous of incessant pleasure and he says in that verse, Ò And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings...Ó Beloved if you are living sin and you feel that you are enjoying life to its fullest, you are only deceiving yourself as you live on in sin. And if you desire everlasting pleasure, if you desire peace down in your heart, there is one way and one place you can find it, that is at the foot of the old rugged cross. So turn your heart to the Lord, turn away from sin. I would like to plead with you to turn your heart and life to Jesus. Make the same decision Moses made; yield your all to Christ just now. May God bless you. Won't you turn from your sin just now, friends, make that decision? Oh, if you could just realize and visualize just now the great judgment day when you stand before God and give account of your life. Will you humble your heart just now and pour your soul out to the Lord? [Page 43]

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