March 11th

V - Vision

GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE WORD OF GOD:

         Deuteronomy 32:49-50 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:

           

 

GETTING THE WORD OF GOD INTO PEOPLE:

  Most of us may have not have heard those words from a doctor, “You only have a little while to live.” Some of us have been with others as they have listened to this declaration of doom. It is a somber moment to say the least, to be told that everything as we have known it is about to change. For the unsaved, it is a moment that should bring about the sobering thought of eternity in heaven or hell. For the believer in Christ however, it is the though of being separated from our loved ones that brings any sorrow at all. On the other hand, we also find joy knowing we are about to meet Jesus. Jesus, who died for us and promised us a home in heaven. As we read the verses above we get a glimpse of heaven and the promise that we will know one another there. In God’s proclamation to Moses that he was about to die, God makes a very enlightening statement. He tells Moses that he will “be gathered unto thy people.” Then God likens it to Aarons passing being gathered to his people. This cannot be an earthly gathering of graves as Aaron was buried on Mount Hor, and Moses was going to be buried several miles away near Mt Nebo. What God did here was to give Moses and us a vision of the heaven that awaits us. First, we will be gathered with those believers who have gone before us. To know I will see my friends and loved ones again is such a comfort as I await that call to my heavenly home. Secondly, we will assuredly recognize them. Why would God call to Moses’ remembrance his father, brother and those who had passed in the desert, if he would not know them when he got there? Finally, we know that we are not sleeping in a grave somewhere. God says here that Aaron “was gathered” to his people. Not that he would be some day, but that it had happened. God here gives us a vision of heaven we can find peace and joy in.

 

 

LETTING THE WORD AFFECT OUR LIVES:

 

Thank you Lord for peace and joy in the confidence that, not only I can come to a place you prepared for me, but that I will be gathered with those I love who have gone on before. Thank you Father for the comfort of knowing that to absent from this body is to be immediately present with you. Thank you God for this vision into Glory. Amen.