Christian Living
Just before my bedtime last night, John 3:14 dropped in my heart…
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,”
John 3:14 NKJVhttps://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.3.14.NKJV
I faintly remember the story of Moses, the Israelites, the stinging snakes and the snake-on-a-tree, from childhood. Having successfully overcome the strong urge to search for the reference scripture for that story last night and instead get some sleep, it didn’t escape my to-do list for today. So here we are…. Numbers 21:4-9…..
“The Israelites left Mount Hor and traveled on the road that goes to the Red Sea. They did this to go around the country of Edom. But the people became impatient. They began complaining against God and Moses. The people said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? We will die here in the desert! There is no bread and no water! And we hate this terrible food!” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people. The snakes bit the people, and many of the Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We know that we sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord. Ask him to take away these snakes.” So Moses prayed for them. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. If anyone is bitten by a snake, that person should look at the bronze snake on the pole. Then that person will not die.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then when a snake bit anyone, that person looked at the bronze snake on the pole and lived.”
Numbers 21:4-9 ERVhttps://bible.com/bible/406/num.21.4-9.ERV
I am growing steadily in my expression of patience as I live and walk in the Spirit…And I am thankful for it.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.“
Galatians 5:25 NKJV
But I cannot promise you that I can condone a lot of grumbling, ingratitude and insolence for a significant length of time from my children or anybody. No, I will not send them poisonous snakes, but neither will I let them hang around me for too long. They will dampen my spirit!
Well, going by Numbers 21, God must have thought, some stinging from snakes would help the Israelites put things in proper perspective. It did! Only it was too deadly a lesson for some.
Those who quickly connected the poisonous snakes to God’s anger immediately gained wisdom, and with Moses’ intervention, God sent a remedy….Look up and Live.
“Make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. If anyone is bitten by a snake, that person should look at the bronze snake on the pole. Then that person will not die.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then when a snake bit anyone, that person looked at the bronze snake on the pole and lived.”
Speaking of His death and the salvation of mankind in John 3:14-15, Jesus Christ referenced Numbers 21:4-9..
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:14-15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.3.14-15.NKJV
We can say that there is a correlation between the Israelites looking up to the serpent and recovering from the poisonous stings, as well as mankind looking up to Jesus (hung on the cross) and living. Even at that, there is a big difference between the 2 scenarios.
Looking up to Christ, is not just a guarantee of life, no, it is the assurance of eternal life. Halleluyah!
Some Christians misunderstand what eternal life really means. I was in same boat in the past. Eternal life is not ‘the life hereafter’, it is not ‘when we get to heaven’ it is not in the ‘bye and bye’. Eternal life is here and now, in us! Halleluyah!
Eternal life is ‘never ending life’. That’s what Christ came to give us and that is what we have.
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
I John 5:11 NKJV
Stinging poisonous snakes? Global viral pandemic? Eternal life is in us. Those who have it know it.
Would you choose to sleep and wait for the Resurrection morning (John 11:11), or would you rather stick around until your work is done? Eternal life is in us. We just keep our eyes on Christ, the source of this life.
And as many people that will in these trying times, look up to Christ hung on the cross, they will also receive eternal life immediately.
Look up and Live today.
Give your life to Jesus Christ.
Wherever you are right now, you can simply bow your head and say; ‘Lord Jesus, I confess that You are the Christ, I believe that You died for my sins and that God raised You from the dead. I receive You into my life today. I make You my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for saving me. Father, I ask that You baptise me with the Holy Spirit now, in Jesus Christ name. Amen ❤
CONGRATULATIONS!
If you’ll like to be guided to make this decision to follow Jesus Christ, here is my email address…. graceobomanu@gmail.com
Stay Blessed and Love Always.
