The View from the Top

Posted on by Shannon

At 120 years old, Moses announced to the Israelite nation that his time had come. In Deut.34:1, God instructed him to ascend Mount Nebo where he would die. What a solemn walk that would have been for this great old prophet.

When he reached the top, God allowed him a look at all of the promised land. Mount Nebo is 2680 feet above sea level and stands just east of the Jordan valley, just across from Jericho. What a terrific place to preview the land. He would have seen the deep Jordan valley at his feet, and the high hills of the future Judea, where Jerusalem stood. God displayed the southern parts of the land at the bottom of the Dead Sea, and the northern limits in the distance. This would have been the pinnacle of Moses’ life, for he had never seen the promised land. For the previous 40 years he had led the people in its direction. The place had only existed in his imagination. This brief view would have fulfilled a dream.

As you know, Moses was not allowed to enter the land. The closest he would get was the view at the top of Mount Nebo. Then, after a good, long look, he passed away. God buried him in a nearby valley, but his final resting place is concealed.

God had actually done Moses a favour by letting him skip living in the new land. History records it became a place of tremendous strife and hardship. Instead, God took him into the heavenly realms. The rest of the people soon entered the land, but they would eventually destroy it.

Our position is something like that of Moses. We travel far in life and the way is difficult. We’re told about our reward in heaven, but we can only see it through the word of God and by faith. However unlikely it seems, the time is coming when we will enter it. Live by faith so that you will.

– Tim Johnson

Top Secret

Posted on by Shannon

Every once in a while we get a glimpse in to the secret side of the world’s governments. Matters that are “Top Secret” are sometimes suddenly revealed by the work of computer hackers, or one foreign government trying to root out the secrets of another. As long as there have been governments, prying eyes have tried to steal their closely-held secrets. Protecting information has become a big business.

Moses spoke of God’s secrets during a speech he delivered just before Israel was to enter the Promised Land. He warned them not to neglect the Law, for there would be dire consequences. This they could count on, because God had revealed it. Then Moses said this: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” (Deut.29:29)

There are many things we would like God to explain. We all wonder about the difficult things of life, whether or not there are reasons for them. The word “WHY” is not just a favorite question of toddlers, for people of all ages ask it. Moses helped us to understand that God has his secrets and it is not for us to demand answers of Him for things He has not revealed at this time. But Moses noted that God has revealed enough for us to keep going in life, to keep believing and be satisfied with what He has said. Many things will remain a mystery until Jesus returns and we can finally go with Him to meet our God. I’m sure the Lord will be happy to answer all of our questions at that time.

Until then, we must trust Him and be grateful for what He has revealed. “The things revealed belong to us.”

– Tim Johnson

Marathons

Posted on by Shannon

With several people in our congregation who like to run for exercise, let me tell you about Ed Whitlock. This runner is now 85 years old and lives in Milton, ON. He was born in England and began to run while in school. He broke many records competing in university, but gave it up when he moved to Canada. At 41 years old he started again. At 48, he ran a marathon in 2½ hours, then at age 72 he became the oldest person in the world to run it in less than 3 hours – a record he still holds. He didn’t stop there. At 81, he broke the world’s record for the half-marathon for a man his age. What possesses a man to run like that when most people in their 80’s just like to get out and take a nice walk? It has to do with the desire to excel.

Now, I don’t recommend that the seniors among start running races. But let’s think about the need to excel in our run towards heaven. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Heb.12:1). Jesus wants us to live our lives in a way that radiates excellence and endurance. It doesn’t matter if you are 25 or 85, all of us can excel at living for Jesus.

If a man like Ed Whitlock can break records at an advanced age, surely we can excel in godliness, kindness, love and patience in life too. Run with endurance.

– Tim Johnson

To Search and Know

Posted on by Shannon

A new computer has introduced me to the world of cloud computing. It used to be that you had to store all your files on your physical computer, or at least backed up by some sort of gizmo you could buy. But now you can send all your files over the Internet to vast storage places operated by different companies that reserve some space for you. You can add to it any time you like, and later search for what you need to finish projects. It’s like sending information into a hovering cloud in the sky that guards it, only releasing it when you give it permission. Much of the knowledge of the world is now stored in virtual clouds. It’s amazing and very convenient.

The ability of God to know everything about us is also amazing. He doesn’t have to retrieve files from a cloud to check up on us, nor does he need special permission to find ways to help us when we need it. God is omniscient, possessing a full array of knowledge about all things at all times.

David expressed this in Psalm 139. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

David’s words are not meant to frighten us. He is merely praising God for who He is and how He cares for us. “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them” (v17).

– Tim Johnson

Can’t Carry On?

Posted on by Shannon

Crocus in snow, yellowThese pretty crocuses have been blooming in my back yard for over a week. They came up when the snow melted and the ground warmed up a little in the sun. As we all know, the snow returned several times this week and, unfortunately, buried these flowers. But a few days later they poked right back up out of the snow. It’s as if they’re saying, “We’re going to bloom no matter what happens!”

God has built into nature a tremendous resiliency. Tough things can happen, but the colour and beauty of the world resumes anyway. Don’t you think there’s something important to learn from this? Surely human beings, who have been created in the likeness of God, should be able to get up and try again when they have been knocked down by life’s troubles. Now I’m not naive; I know that some troubles can be devastating and overwhelming. I don’t know how some people manage to survive. But I know what Jesus said about survival.

He said it in John 16:33. “These things I have spoken to you, than in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” When you follow a man who went through death and Hades and then rose again, you have a power at work in your life that can make you stand. The snows of life will bury you once in a while, but you can still get up and bloom.

– Tim Johnson