How would you view the end of your life? When I die what will my thoughts be like? Moses’ life is coming to an end in Numbers 27 and God tells him to walk up a mountain to see the promised land and then he would be gathered to his people. Why do both Moses and Aaron climb a mountain to die? I suppose for Moses it was to gain a view of the promised land before his death. When I learn that death is close at hand how will I act? I yet to face the reality of my own death and I feel like my whole life is still before me with an unlimited number of things to accomplish. Moses had a full life of learning to depend upon God as the people of Israel were brought out of captivity in Egypt. Moses’ main concern was for the well-being of the people when he asks God to “appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” Moses knew that the people of Israel needed a strong leader and shepherd to lead them on in their walk with God. Joshua the son of Nun, who was faithful to God when scouting the promised land, was chosen to lead after Moses. What does it take to be a great leader? Jesus Christ is the perfect example of a leader. He came full of power to serve. A leader needs to be faithful to the people that he leads just as Jesus was faithful. In Hebrews chapter 2 Jesus Christ is compared to Moses and is seen greater and more faithful because He is standing as a Son over God’s house where as Moses was a servant with in the house. Jesus Christ is the most excellent way to see life.
As I sit and think about all that Jesus Christ has done and is doing in my life I feel wholly inadequate. I am so prone to wandering from my Lord. It is easy to be buffeted and bashed by the worries of the world: marriage, employment, money, fear, war, and lust. This world is vying against god for my attention. Sadly I become mesmerized by the the allure and glitter of the world around me. What hope is their for a christian today? We need to turn to our source of power and strength, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to overcome the snares of the world. I think this call is the only important call a leader of today need to heed. Proverbs 22:5 tells me that “thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will be far from them.” How do we guard ourselves? Lord grant me the ability to guard my heart, mind, soul, and strength in Jesus Christ. I honestly do not know how this is done but I know you are faithful and I am asking you for help.
Why is strong spiritual leadership so important? Numbers 28 can give a little clue as to the reason why a strong spiritual leader is necessary. God again speaks saying, “Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to me, at their appointed time.” Humanity is cursed by sin and we are not inclined to remember God. A strong spiritual leader is needed to keep turning the people back to God by remembering to follow His commands. For Moses and now Joshua this was to make sure that the offerings to God are continually kept and remembered. What does a leader today keep reminding us? We need to keep looking to Jesus Christ. All the sacrifice and laws in the Old Covenant point to Jesus Christ for fulfillment. Today we need men who will challenge, direct, rebuke, and encourage believers to seek out God by getting to know Jesus Christ through diligent study of the Word of God. We need men to take up the charge found in Isaiah chapter 1, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Think about what this world would be like if we had a generation of men who were willing to take up this battle cry and seek out justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphans, and plead for the widow.
My desire for my life can be summed up by a quote from Rich Mullins, “If my life is motivated by an ambition to leave a legacy, what I would probably leave is a legacy of ambition. But, if my life is motivated by the power of God’s spirit in me and the awareness of the indwelling Christ, if I allow His presence to guide my motives, that’s the only time I think we really leave a great legacy.” I desire to leave behind a legacy pointing to God’s amazing power. Lord can I have that?
