LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY
Part 3
I say it costs much to break from the destiny that’s arranged for us.
See this woman that took this little babe when she got him among the bull rushes in that little cradle.
Brother, she had something in mind.
There was an arrangement made for that boy.
Somebody said, how do you know she had that in mind.
She sent him to the best schools, got him the best education that could be gained in those days.
He was thoroughly schooled and she had one thing in mind.
His destiny was the top.
And, brother, it takes something to break with the destiny that’s arranged for us.
I don’t know whether I can get this thought across to you but I want to tell you this morning.
You can never do it unless you definitely believe in another destiny that God has for you.
You can’t overcome that destiny by just quitting it, lay it aside.
You’ve got to have another destiny stronger, working stronger in your life if you ever overcome that one.
See. He just didn’t refuse. When he refused,
Come on the only way you can begin feeling to whether you got the goods like Moses had,
Would be to have the Republican committee come in and say, well, George has so messed himself up that we’ve got to have somebody to run for president and we’d like to have you.
We’re ready.
We have a good feeling, we actually believe that we can put enough push behind you we can put you in the White House.
What do you say? Just refuse them right to their face.
I’m not going to do it. I wouldn’t do it for nothing.
Well, what in the world would you turn down this top position for?
Cause I’ve got a higher position. And that’s exactly why Moses turned that down.
He just didn’t refuse that, he had already made a choice!
Thank God he had some spiritual understanding!
He had already chose that he would rather suffer affliction with the people of God.
He’d rather work and be a servant of God!
As far as Moses’ understanding was a mind’s a saint.
Being a servant of God is the highest calling there is here on the earth!
Oh, yes it is. Paul wrote to us about our high calling.
Brother, it’s a high calling when God chooses you to be his servant then I want you to leave the life of sin.
Turn your life over to me and start living for me and doing what I ask you to do.
Needless to say Moses didn’t know what he was committing his life to.
Little did he know that in short time, my friend, that he would be called of God to deliver 7 million people with nothing but a stick and his donkey
Little did he know where his commitment would lead him.
But he chose, he refused and he chose just as sure as we’re here.
He went on, my friend, and let us see that he refused the luxurious ease, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
He refused the luxurious ease that meant moral benumbment.
Oh, I can’t stop there and preach but I’d like to.
Friend, let’s face it. All it takes is too much ease.
Too much luxurious ease will cause our burden for the loss to wain.
You know that from experience.
Friend, he knew that luxurious ease would cause, my friend, moral benumbment and stop his ears from the cries and wale’s and the needy and the oppressed.
He would live in comfort which would destroy his sympathy for others.
Did you ever see people living in too much luxurious ease that’s got any sympathy on anybody else? No.
Their attitude is, boy, you can work and get it just like I got it.
Moses understood what it would bring.
He refused the pleasures of sin, the courts of the royal family was abounding with opportunities to indulge in sin.
Had he followed the pattern, his senses would have been gratified to a point of choking.
One is well said, our senses are intended to be passages. Not living rooms.
We do irreparable wrong to our beings, when we dwell in physical gratification.
And neglect the quiet inter-sanctuary of the spirit.
Moses refused the pleasures of sin. Why?
He would not, he would not have pleasure’s things with opprecian and blood.
Even though there is not time to dwell there.
I ask you to stop and think what you are a part of in God’s book when you are engaged so in worldly pleasure. Amen.
I am not here to draw the line how much pleasure in this world you find and still be a Christian.
That is possibly something you are going to have to draw in your own mind.
But I am telling you.
The devil is ever working to carry on in worldly pleasure and after all when one pleasure is satisfying to you it only stirs up and excites a passion for more pleasure.
In God’s book this morning when we get carried away with worldly pleasure, the Bible said we are following the course of this world and being led by the God of this world.
Moses chose, rather to suffer affliction with the people of God.
Oh, I know you have heard that statement over and over.
In other words, he chose the side of weakness and oppression.
He chose the way of the unpopular.
You look at those words right there and you can come to this conclusion quickly.
That the world placed before Moses, the very best it had and religion placed before him the worst it had.
Suffer affliction. And when the world placed before him the best it could offer.
And God, through religion, placed before him the worst part of it.
He chose the worst there is in religion to the best there is in the world.
And that’s my choice. He is no different than I am.
Give me the worst there is in true Christianity.
It is much better than the best the world has got to offer.
Oh, Brother Pruitt, I can’t understand him acting like that.
Listen to me. Go just a little farther with me.
He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God.
I repeat, he chose the side of weakness, oppression, chose the unpopular.
He refused the treasures of Egypt esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than anything this world had to offer.
Well, somebody said what is he preaching about anyway?
It is well for us to let the word of God to kind of put a test on us this morning.
One thing we need to get rid of is some of our babying.
Petting ourselves and want others to pet us.
Because we have a little rough place in a Christian experience.
We need to grow up. We need to get a new fresh vision this morning.
You mark it down. The world has nothing to offer if you could have it all, that will come in value to the place of the lowest position in the Kingdom of God.
I say you need to learn that well and put it right in the devil’s face.
When he brings around the things to try to wean you away, try to confuse your mind, try to cause you to get your values mixed.
Tell him straight and mean it from the heart!
Well, all you are doing is suffering, friend, all you are do is suffering, friend, all you are doing since you are living for God is suffering.
Why don’t you go back out in the world?
They are having a good time. They is no suffering out there.
Tell him straight to his face.
I’d rather suffer the rest of my life and be in the Kingdom of God when death comes on me than enjoy all the pleasures you got out there and have me in the end find myself lost eternally into eternal torment forever and ever. Amen.
So he refused the treasures of Egypt.
And the reason he did in evaluating his values, he esteemed the reproach of Christ’s greater riches.
See, he didn’t turn it down for nothing. He turned it down for something.
He turned it down because he had something greater.
Now, come on, a lot of people in religion today say he is a fool.
He didn’t have his right mind.
Who would count suffering, bearing reproach for Christ?
Who would count that greater riches than all the riches of this world or all the treasures of Egypt?
Couldn’t have your right mind.
Well, I isn’t going to say you don’t have your right mind but I’m going to say you don’t have the same mind you used to have before you become a Christian.
Yea, when you become a new creature, your mind is transformed.
I don’t mean just change. It’s transformed.
And eternal realities, spiritual realities light up.
Before they didn’t mean anything to you. Didn’t have much value.
Like the man of the world said, I’d rather a hold of what I can see with my natural eye than to try to put my trust in something I can’t see.
But, brother, when you become a Christian and your mind becomes transformed and spiritual reality are illuminated, you see that the least spiritual thing is and has more value than all of the temporal things of this world put together!
For the Bible said, esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of Egypt. Why?
Why, even suffering the reproach of Christ, if we do it in the right way, the Bible says, it brings great pleasure to our hearts when we truly suffer in the right way for Christ.
I read not long ago and I jotted it down here early this morning, came to my mind,
Elizabeth Christina, who was then Queen of Prussia, was speaking one day with a little daughter of her gardener.
Her gardener was a Christian. She knew nothing about Christ.
And the little daughter talked to her so, and she was so greatly pleased with the wisdom, gentleness and happiness that the little child spoke of and joy and in her heart,
And so some days later when she was ready to set down with the ladies of the kingdom in their finery,
She had fixed up the palace as they do with all the finery, and the thought came to her mind about this little girl so she had someone go get her and bring her in,
And when they brought her in she was astonished because she had never been in a place like that,
With all the gold and silver and adornment and the Queen asked that she be seated right beside her at the table.
And as she was seated the Queen watched her as she looked around in such astonishment and saw all the beautiful things, and the Queen thought within herself,
I wonder now what this little child’s reaction is going to be to all these beautiful things of the world that she has never seen.
The little girl looked around a while and then she rolled her eyes towards heaven, folded her hands and spoke with a clear voice.
Jesus, thy blood of righteousness, my beauty and glorious dress midst flaming whirls in these array with joy I lift my head.
When she quit saying those words, several women around the table were crying.
The Queen was crying and a woman spoke up and said this little girl has more in her hire than any of us.
This is why Moses could do this. He had found something real to his soul.
He had found a richer treasure than this old world could afford.
Verse 27, I’ll hurry, said by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured and he had much to put up with.
Well, people and the devil neither one give up on you.
There is no question in my mind but what every move was made possible to break Moses down and change his mind because from the worldly point of view it looked like he sure wasn’t using his head.
All the education she had given him was put to waste.
Here he was turning down the supreme opportunity but he endured all of this.
He didn’t fear the wrath of the king. Somebody said, what does that mean?
Well, no doubt he had seen sudden execution to people who raised up against the will of the king.
The will of the daughter of the king but he didn’t fear the wrath of the king.
He feared God.
Friend, if you definitely from your heart, fear God, you don’t have to fear anyone else. Why?
There will not be a thing done to you unless God says.
When you truly fear God, put yourself in his control, God’s will is going to be done.
Not men’s will and the devil. God’s will, will be done.
Somebody said, well how did he do it all?
Well, the 24th verse and the 27th verse both begin by faith. By faith!
I hope the Lord will let us preach some more on faith.
We never got through on that study.
Somebody said by what power was he inspired in his choice and denunciation?
By faith, the scripture said. By faith he looked first on the recompense of the Lord, By faith.
He believed the Bible that tells us there is an end to the road that we travel.
He believed the Bible that tell us the decisions we make today is going to effect us one way or another in the end.
So he looked beyond all the blessings, momentary blessings that might be brought to his life, momentarily, and looked how it was going to effect him in the end.
He looked onto the recompense of the reward.
Oh, it is very rewarding to have all the treasures of Egypt put in your lap.
Make you a potentate. Give you the highest position.
Enjoy pleasures of every kind of sin possible for a man to enjoy.
If that’s my feat, that’s quite a reward. But he looked to the recompense.
See the devil don’t give you anything you got to pay for.
Why did he make such a decision? All these are great opportunities.
These are great riches but I don’t want them. Why?
It will cost me my soul and my soul is worth more than this whole world.
He looked to the recompense of the reward.
My friend, many things that people are enjoying today and think are a real blessing in they are paying high for.
Somebody said, how much they pay?
They are paying at the price of their soul!
Right back to my text, the wages of sin is death, eternal separation from God but the gift is God is eternal life. Amen.
So by faith he looked to the recompense of reward.
He believed in the ultimate vindication of right by faith he saw him who is invisible. Amen.
My friend, he not only saw that in the thought of eternity what the reward would, the recompense would be but he saw him who is invisible.
In these perilous times days of evil, a time when imagination amends minds are evil.
Satan is busier than ever before.
Showing the glitter and glamour of this present day living.
While he draws you and fills your mind and your eyes with the glitter and glamour and pleasure of present day living,
He is blinding your eyes to the horrors of hell and the greatness of heaven which are out here at the end.
If we be victorious, we must weigh his actions.
Every one of our actions if we are going to be victorious.
We must weigh it in the light of eternity and keep our eyes on him who is invisible.
You will notice as I close in that text, not only did he choose but he refused.
I want to say there is a negative side to living for God.
Too many things a Christian cause they just chose Christ.
You have some things to refuse.
Don’t ever be carried away with the modern thought that if it is here God ordained it or it wouldn’t be here and he wants you to have it.
Know there is some things to refuse.
You are going to live for God, choosing, my friend, and refusing.
And then we’ve got to get to the place, God help us, where we esteem.
You know he said esteeming the reproach of Christ.
The word esteem means to rate it highly. Regard it with respect.
Never let the devil bring you a place you’re sorry you made your choice for Jesus.
Hold your experience in a place where you can rejoice every day.
The devil will come around and say have you chose to serve Jesus?
Yea, I chose to serve Jesus and I’m glad of it! Today I’m glad!
That’s what it means by esteeming.
The devil can break you down and get you to thinking sorry thoughts about serving God you will soon be out.
I want to say again if you will look at it in the right way, the world has nothing to offer as much value to us as real salvation.
I say as a weak sick one, my friend, as weak and sick as this old world is, it needs to see a doctor and that one it needs to see is Jesus Christ.
He, alone is our health and strength. Just as sure as we are here.
And I want to say if he is in your heart this morning he is stirring and if he is not in your heart, he is knocking.
Trying to get in. Amen, Amen, Amen.
It is needful for us as the people of God to be stirred along these lines.
I say it is good for us every once in a while to count our blessing.
See what we’ve really got in an experience of serving God.
And friend, let me tell you something, I just want to tell you this and I am going to pray.
It’s hard to stop some time.
But, friend, unless this morning you can definitely profoundly solemnly, loudly tell the devil right in his face,
I’d rather have Jesus, I’d rather suffer, I’d rather be down,
I’d rather be depressed,
I’d rather go through hardship and have Jesus than to not have him and have the pleasures.
If you can’t say that there is something wrong with your experience.
You’ve got something you need to pray about. You are in a slippery place. And ready for a fall.
May God help you is my prayer. Let us stand
Father, we thank you again this morning for your word.
We’re thankful, Lord, you don’t just let us be but you stir our hearts in way of remembrance.
And oh, we’ve thought over these things this morning, our determination has only been deepened.
My God, our eyes have been enlightened afresh with the valuable, what a valuable thing this experience with thee really is.
And oh, in the name of Jesus, I pray and we trust that they word has moved over the hearts of these precious ones.
Help them to realize this morning, even though they’ve got a body, they are a never dying soul and that soul is the only heavenly thing.
The only eternal thing that they have and it is worth more than this whole world.
My God, it’s worth making the flesh suffer.
It’s worth making the flesh be deprived.
My God, one day we would want to lay down the flesh in death but our soul is going to live on and on forever.
My God, may we be able to so live,
That we can have the words spoken to us that were spoken to Lazarus,
In life he had to put up with some hard things but now he is comforted,
And not ever have the words fall upon us that in life you let the flesh cause you to take the easy way and have the good things and now you are tormented forever and ever and ever.
Help us this morning. Lift our minds beyond the present hour.
Help us to see the end of the way we’re traveling in Jesus name.
Aman.
Number 482
I trust everyone of us this morning is truly counting the cost of a lost soul in eternity.
And I want to say again either way we look at it, whether we look at it the greatness of heaven of the awfulness of hell, it’s just not worth it either way.
Friend, to just satisfy the flesh here and find the answers to some gratification of the flesh is not worth it of the price of our soul.
My, my, my, we talk about Esah selling his birth right for just a bowl of chili, bowl of pottage,
But oh, friend, in the light of eternity if God looks on it,
No matter what, how great you think the thing is that leads you from the path of rectitude as God looks on it has no more value than that bowl of pottage.
Why? Things of time, temple things just all fall in one category.
They are all going to be gone.
There isn’t some good things and bad things,
God is going to destroy them all when Jesus splits the cloud.
Everything you can see with your natural eye are going to be gone.
The only thing that will matter that day is soul. Soul, soul, soul, soul.
While we sing more verse, not going to hold the serve long.
Others of you, don’t you think it’s unwise.
I’m sure you think it is.
To go on and just have your own way follow the dictates of the flesh, follow the destiny that the devil has prescribed for you when you can have deliverance from them.
And enjoy the destiny that God wants you to enjoy.
While we sing another verse, will others of you obey God?
My God help us. God bless you. Help him, Lord God to get down.
Yes. My God, My God.
Friend if you have counted the costs, I believe you made a wise decision.
Turn your life to Christ. Let’s become a servant of God.
Sin no longer. Everyone satisfied?
Anyone raise a hand and say sing another verse, I need a little more time.
We’ve got plenty of time if it’s needed.
All right even though the service may be dismissed, the invitation is still open.
You come and bring your burden.
