Drug Traffickers, Moses, and the Kingdom of Heaven

A while ago, I read an article about the suffering of the Colombian people. According to the article, Colombia ranks among the top 10 countries where Christians face the most violent attacks for their faith. The article pointed out that powerful drug traffickers view Christians as a threat. My first thought upon reading this was that this is total insanity! How can true Christians be a threat to anyone, especially to drug traffickers? However, from the perspective of the drug traffickers, as more people turn to Christ, they lose their footing in those communities, threatening the livelihood of the drug traffickers.

Obviously, there's a huge gap between my way of thinking and that of the drug traffickers. (If there were not a huge difference, there would be something seriously wrong with that picture.) However, this gap pales in comparison to the gap between man's way of thinking and God's way of thinking.

Later, after reading the article, I watched a devotional video that told the story of how Moses disobeyed God, and thus he was denied entrance into the Promised Land. But to my way of thinking, if anyone should've made it into the Promised Land, it should've been Moses.

Remember:

• The burning bush
• Moses standing up for the people and saying to the Pharaoh "let My people go"
• Of course, we can't forget the events surrounding the Red Sea incident - waters parting, armies drowning, etc
• In addition, there's Mount Sinai and the Ten Commandments

I suspect, most people would agree with me in saying that if anyone should've made it into the Promised Land, it should've been Moses. To my way of thinking, this great man of God should not only have made it in, he should've been given an exalted position. However, my thoughts do not always match God's thoughts. I'm reminded of the Scripture in Isaiah:

My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways, declares the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Moses faithfully led the "children of Israel" through the desert to the Promised Land. However, on their journey, the people complained about a lack of water. In response, God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would release water. Frustrated by the people's constant complaining, Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had instructed him. Striking the rock released the much-needed water. Even though Mosses was disobedient, striking the rock instead of speaking to it, God still used Moses as a vehicle of blessing for the people. But there was a price to pay. Because of his disobedience, God denied him entrance into the Promised Land. To my way of thinking, God could've simply overlooked this one little incident. But let's not forget Isaiah 55:8.

One day all born-again Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ* in heaven. There each of us will give an account of our lives. At the judgment seat of Christ, we receive what is due to us for the things done in this life, whether good or bad. For the good, those things judged acceptable to Christ, we receive rewards. For the bad, those things judged worthless to Christ, we suffer loss. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12) The Apostle Paul was concerned that after preaching to others, his actions might disqualify him for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) If the Apostle Paul had concerns, shouldn't we too?

Christ looks at every part of our lives since accepting Him as Savior. He looks, not only at what we've done (or not done), but He also looks at our motives and methods. Even when our motives are pure the question remains, are we working according to God's plan or, like Moses, are we doing things our way? To our way of thinking, we may believe we are in good standing, but how does Christ see us? (My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways, declares the Lord...)

Let it be our prayer today that when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, we hear the words "well done good and faithful servant."