04/12/2013 - HOLD FAST WHAT YOU HAVE

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Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 3:11

What has the Lord God given to you? A house, a car, clothes? What else? Everything comes from Him, no doubt of that. But what the Lord most high refers to on this verse is that we may keep His word: the ministry that He has given to us. It is a great sin to take the scriptures for granted, and whoever does that shall perish. In the past, and also today, there were people who were called and elected for divine operations that paid a high price for not keeping what was granted to them.

Moses was an example of this kind of situation. He was powerfully used to deliver 3 million people from Egypt – the sons of Israel lived as slaves to Pharaoh. For 40 years, God’s servant led the people to the Promised Land, and he was used in many ways to deliver the people from slavery. In the desert, the Lord gave them water and food, protected them against snakes and healed their infirmities.

One day, God said to Moses that he would not enter Canaan. Imagine Moses’ deception! During all those years he was dreaming about entering the Promised Land; however, for not obeying a word that was given to him, and although he begged the Lord to have mercy on him, God said no (Dt. 3:23-29). The truth is that it is worthless to beg for mercy if you don’t follow what the Word declares.

Moses knew how to pray, but God didn’t listen to him. What matters is to follow carefully the directions you receive. In his prayer, Moses started out by speaking how great were the things the Lord was showing to him, and the things the Lord was about to do, but it didn’t help him. Even when he heard from the Lord that he wouldn’t enter Canaan, Moses didn’t stop praying. The Lord gave him a big “no”, and Moses stopped pursuing Him. When God gives us a final “no”, that’s the end of the discussion.

Because Moses insisted so much, the Lord became very angry at him. However, as a servant, Moses accepted what the Lord spoke to him, and didn’t fall on the trap of turning against the Lord. Those who cant accept God’s decisions are committing a big mistake; it is always best to listen to what he says and to accept it, for He is perfect in all His ways. Never quit paying attention to what the Lord teaches you, and follow the orders you receive.

The Lord ordained Moses to prepare Joshua and to strengthen him, because Joshua would be the commander who would lead the people into the Promised Land (Dt. 3:28). Moses wasn’t upset to prepare his successor; he followed the Lord’s orders faithfully; for sure he’d suffer if he hadn’t done that. Therefore, Moses ordered the people of Israel to follow Joshua’s orders, so that they would live, enter and possess the Promised Land.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares