Deuteronomy 34:1-8 (p. 146) March 9, 2014
Introduction:
I have helped write a few obituaries in my life, and probably like you have read hundreds if not thousands of them.
Every single obituary tells you a lot about the person it’s written about, whether it’s just a few words or 8 paragraphs. I’ve read obituaries written by the person themselves, but most of the time the obituary is written by their mate, one of their children, or a combination of the two.
Webster defines “obituary” in this way: “a notice of a person’s death usually with a short biographical account.” It comes from the Latin “obitus” which means “death.”
I thought of this series several months ago after reading an obituary that described all the worldly stuff the individual who died really enjoyed, but there was absolutely no spiritual emphasis, no real importance placed on their relationship with God.
And you might say, “Yeah Rick, but that was written by their family, not them.”
And I would say, “Right!!! But who knows you best...and if you want to influence someone with your life....who do you want to influence most?”
I don’t want Kari, or my family to write...”He loved to go hunting...and his favorite car was a Plymouth Duster...340. He enjoyed fried chicken and his favorite TV channels were “The History Channel and Velocity.”
The last words written about me...or spoken about me...and you...are very important.
Illustration [I remember the story of the 3 old men that had a discussion about the last words they wanted to have spoken about themselves: The 1st gentleman said, “I want people to say I was a good husband and father, that I provided for my family.” The 2nd gentleman said, “I want people to say He was a man of integrity...His word was his bond.” And the 3rd gentleman said....”At my funeral the last words I’d want to have spoken are...”LOOK HE’S STILL BREATHING!”]
Those words are important, LOL! The last words I’d want said about me are “He loved Jesus Christ with all His heart...He treated his wife and family like Christ would have treated them. He loved people and had a burden for those who were lost.”
Wayne Smith used to often end his messages with his saying, “Only one life and soon it’s passed, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
So I’d like you to consider your life and the obituary that’s being written about you, because you’re past doesn’t have to define you future, even if there is not much of that future left...and for those who think it doesn’t matter now, please know life is like a “vapor” on a cool winter’s day, like a flower that blooms and it’s quickly gone. Before you know it...your obituary will be written.
Here’s the lessons we can learn from Moses’ obituary in Deuteronomy 34.
I. MAKE SURE YOU DIE BEING ABLE TO SEE THE PROMISED LAND
DEUTERONOMY 34:1-5 (p. 146)
Folks when we look at scripture there are only a few people who got a glimpse into heaven, or paradise. John the Revelator was certainly shown portions of it. The Apostle Paul was “caught up into paradise and witnessed things he was not permitted to tell.” (2 Cor. 12:4).
Moses even got to witness the fading glory of God as He passed by and God hid him in the cleft of the rock. (Ex. 33:22)
Scripture teaches that the O.T. and it’s stories are an illustration of the reality of the N.T. or New Covenant in Christ. The O.T. is the shadow. Jesus is the real person that is introduced by the shadow. (Heb.10:1)
So in Moses we see a deliverer that leads his people out of slavery into or to the Promised Land. A shadow foretelling Christ’s delivering out of sin.
You know his story, rescued from the bushes and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, yet he refutes the palace, even murdering an Egyptian that was beating one of his people. He has to escape into the desert, becomes a shepherd and encounters God in a burning bush on Mt. Sinai. God sends him and his brother Aaron to challenge Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. 10 plagues later, culminating with the “Passover” and the death of Egypt’s firstborn, Pharaoh relents, lets them go, but then changes his mind...chasing them to the Red Sea. When God divides it for the Israelites escape, and then brings it down on the Egyptians...death is punishment.
Moses leads the Israelites to Mt. Sinai. God gives his commands. The Israelites worship a golden calf, and instead of a direct route to Canaan, they are punished to wander in the desert for 40 years. Why, because when they are at the edge of the Promised Land they doubt God’s power. The spies report it’s too hard and the people are too big, all of them except Joshua and Caleb.
One of my least favorite parts of the O.T. is the reason Moses doesn’t get to enter the Promised Land, only see it. The Israelites are constantly complaining and testing Moses’ leadership, even after God does amazing things to prove his authority.
Listen to the incident:
NUMBERS 20:1-12 (p. 106)
I would have never made it into the Promised Land as a leader. I would have been hitting people with that stick instead of a rock. It’s hard for me to blame Moses for being angry and frustrated enough to hit the rock instead of speaking to it.
For some reason this makes me think of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6:7 who touched the ark and died when it became unsteady.
What I learn is “God’s Holiness demands perfection.” Under the law or old covenant...God’s holiness demanded perfect obedience...because He was perfect in all things...Justice as well as mercy.
Moses and Aaron would not enter the land promised by God to Abraham through the covenant because they disobeyed...fair...NOPE! Perfection because God is Holy, yep!
Here is the difference between trying to be good enough to get into heaven and being saved by grace through faith.
On our own, just like Moses, each of us would come up short...James 2:10 tells us “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking ALL OF IT.”
[The law of God is like a costly vase...even if you just break the handle off...the entire vase is broken.”]
I love what it says about Moses in Hebrews 11.
The faith chapter: ”Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as a greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
That’s an amazing obituary!!! Every O.T. patriarch (in Heb. 11) died believing in faith. God had a plan. He is sending a Messiah, a Savior. Hebrews 11 ends this way.
HEBREWS 11:39-40 (p. 844)
The better is Jesus...God’s Covenant of Grace...and faith unites us with Moses who believed in a reward, better than the Promised Land!
Here’s the final lesson we learn from Deuteronomy 34, Moses’ Obituary.
II. MAKE SURE GOD GIVES YOU VISION NOT PEOPLE
We’ve all seen groups, ministries, and people’s vision killed because the group, ministry or person starts to selfishly worship itself instead of continuing a Godly vision, instead of looking forward, they look upward.
Listen to these verses from Deuteronomy 34:6-8
DEUTERONOMY 34:6-8
I love the verse 7 that says, “Moses eyes were not weak nor his strength gone!!!”
It might seem like a weird thing to mention, unless you understand...Moses is a LEADER! Moses is the Deliverer and Lawgiver. Moses is the most wonderful leaders in the history of the Israelites.
And people, especially leaders and kings in the O.T. have a habit of not ending their lives very well. Human nature, you know that sinful one, many times causes us to turn inward focused and selfish at the end our our lives instead of the opposite...Just ask David, Solomon, or Samuel. (Almost every O.T. King).
I love Moses because at the end of his life he can still see where he’s going and has the “spizerinktom” to get there. Even at the age of 120.
If you read chapters 32 and 33 in Deuteronomy when you get home you’ll notice that Moses is singing before his obituary is written. It’s a song about God...His power...His works...His righteousness...a song of vision that at its conclusion encourages God’s people to remember who saved them and what they can do in the future.
Listen:
DEUTERONOMY 33:29 (p. 146)
Remember who your Savior has been and will be...Go on in and take possession of the Promised Land because “He is your shield and helper and glorious sword.”
Moses is telling them...I didn’t bring you this far...God did!!! Finish it!!!
Moses’ leadership was vital...super important. The Israelites grieved his death for a month.
Remember God buried Moses. There was no grave marker. Why, probably so they wouldn’t worship the man over the mission.
People sometimes elevate leaders above the Lord, and that was something God wanted to protect His people from, it’s why they were never meant to have a King. Israel was always designated to be a theocracy (God led nation), not a monarchy (a king led nation). Listen to Samuel’s warning:
1 SAMUEL 10:17-19 (p. 191)
A person, or country that puts its hope and security in a ruler or a government over the principles of God is destined for idolatry and ruin. A church that starts following the will of people over the will of God is destined for trouble.
The Church is designed to have only 1 head.
There needs to be men and women in leadership who understand how the head thinks, people who have the humility and courage to keep the body listening...and strengthening it...BUT THERE IS ONLY 1 HEAD...Colossians 1:18 says, “And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy!!
CONCLUSION
[How do we know Moses ended his life with clear vision...and the right energy?]
The final words of his Deut. 34 obituary prove it...
DEUTERONOMY 34:9-12 (p. 146)
There are three sure proofs...for Moses and us that we have ended our lives, and lived them writing the best obituary.
(v. 9)
1. We leave a successor...There is no success without a successor...Moses mentored Joshua to be filled with God’s Spirit. He lifted him up so high people followed him after Moses’ death. Making disciples is the call of us all. It’s the first of being connected to the vine. If there are no disciples in your life, you are not thinking like Jesus.
(v. 10)
2. The Lord knows us face to face...Unless we genuinely know Jesus, everything else is garbage, according to the Apostle Paul. “Dung.” There will be many who do great things, work hard, but do not have a relationship, face to face with Jesus and He will tell them “depart from me accused ones...I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:21) Our goal should be to love Jesus so genuinely that people see the glow, and feel His love.
(v. 12)
3. God’s power is evident in our ministry and lives...”Apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus said, “But whoever abides in me will bear much fruit.” (John 15)
What is the greatest proof that we are abiding in Christ...FRUIT.
Isn’t it time some of us started rewriting our obituary? If you’re still breathing there’s still time.
Only 1 life and soon it’s passed...only what’s done for Christ will last.
Let’s pray.
