My Comfort

Hebrews 11:25-26


I don't think I have ever chosen to be mistreated on the level that Moses chose. Moses was given the option of being mistreated or enjoying worldly pleasures. If he chose the mistreatment he was choosing the purposes of Christ, the rewards of the future, disgrace, fellowship with other believers, honor and value. If he chose to enjoy worldly pleasures he was choosing fast relief, sin, treasures of the world, human enjoyment and brief comfort.

To not look at what was in front of him and to choose instant relief from his misery means he was weighing his options. Moses' choice of enduring mistreatment and not going with the worldly pleasures were extremely convicting for me. Moses fully weighed his future and then made his decision, he was being proactive instead of reactive. Moses made his choices based on God's desires and not his own.

Not too long ago, God prompted me with this question: What if every choice I make is a direct, face to face, answer to Him? For weeks I ignored the truth of that statement. After today's reading I realized that just because I have chosen to ignore the knowledge of that truth does not mean that I am exempt from the consequences of breaking that truth.

God has made it very clear to me that I must choose the pure and blameless choice in all decisions, if I wish to rest in the future rewards He has for me. Based on Moses' choice and the things he endured, I am bracing myself for heart break, loosing the respect of those who don't believe, loosing favor in the eyes of those I esteem, being excluded and others desiring shame for me because of what I have chosen.

That may sound depressing and unattractive, but Moses saw this as honor. He had already taken into account the future of his decision. Moses' actions encouraged me to place a higher value on the hope I have in the certainty of God's deliverance and rewards for me.

Another point that opened my eyes in this scripture was that Moses' choice was not at all focused on his physical comfort. It became a non-factor in his decision making. My physical comfort is a huge factor in my decisions. There was a time that I ran from an environment of provided food, shelter and transportation, along with a fake relationship and an unfaithful, abusive oppressor. I ran toward a future that I hoped would be better and I didn't take into account my physical comfort.

I could have stayed and allowed others to feed, shelter and transport me, but the overwhelming oppression of that controlling and dark life became the atmosphere that consumed me. That atmosphere canceled out the benefits of the instant pleasures of provisions. Just as Moses knew his environment would grow more abusive, darker and even more controlled, so did I. I, like Moses, desired a life with freedom and light.

My life now, has become so blessed that I have almost forgotten to deny myself momentary pleasures that result in a similar darkness and control. I have lost sight of denying myself things that could bring a greater outcome, an outcome of freedom and light.

In our humaness we think it is cruel to not be comfortable or pleasured, but the pleasure we seek is eternal and not of this world. I am talking baout a spiritual growth and intense relationship that brings you closer to the Creator, not denying yourself things to just be doing a spiritual ritual.

These may be some questions you may want to take to God in prayer:

1. What momentary pleasures am I choosing?
2. Are thoee pleasures bringing me control and darkness or freedom and light?
3. Am I overly comfortable in your life, to the point of excess?
4. Do you deny yourself any luxuries?