Nor his strength gone

“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” (Deuteronomy 34:7)

 

Moses is the leader who led the people when Israel people departed out of Egypt. He is the one who talked with God meeting directly. There was no one who met God like Moses before nor after then. No matter how great a man is, one must eventually leave this world when the time comes. Moses died in Moab land and was buried there without entering Canaan, the land God had promised to give to the people of Israel. When Moses died, he was 120 years old. Nevertheless, it is said that his eyes were not cloudy and his energy was not declining. After Moses’ death, Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of Israel people.

 

Advocates for equality of human values assert that human rights and personalities are important for anyone same. There is a point in what they say, and that is an argument we should all sympathize with and follow. Because that is ignored and not followed well, social turmoil such as imbalance in human life and suppression of discrimination is occurring. Thus Christians should take the lead than others in equalizing human rights and personalities. The issue of slavery and racism that was practiced in American history of past is the nonsense in the history of American society that had been founded by the Puritans. We have heard a saying that black churches and white churches had been divided in America until the 19th century. Then that I think about it, I doubt how the church as Holy Church of Christ could have done that. Then well we’ll have to look back on ourselves now.

 

We have to admit that everyone is equal in value, but also a fact that everyone is different. When seeing at people’s faces or dealing with their personalities, we may feel that they are so different each other. Also even if we look at their talents and abilities, we can’t help but admire how different they are. So we know that God has made people so various, and that it would take effort to fully use the ability of the brain. When we read the names and activities of the great figures recorded in the Bible, we may generally regard them as if they were aliens that are far from us. Thus we just remember their deeds, their lessons, just like they’re mythical figures. Or, differently to that, some people commit heretical deeds by equating themselves with biblical figures.

 

We also can live as great as Moses did. And yet I have my own gift, talent, and the power that God gave only to myself, like to Moses. Moses had lived to be 120, but I may live much less than him. The important thing is that you also have your own grace, talent, and the power like those God has given Moses. And irrelevantly how long you live or short, importantly, you have to live as healthy as Moses. Today, many people live long even if they are sick because of the benefits of advanced medical technology. That may make themselves have a hard time on their own or puts a lot of pressure on their family and others around them. It is often said that you should live a long and healthy life. That’s absolutely right. But that’s not enough too. Live healthy and long, but you have to live a faithful life like Moses.

 

I’ve received following message from someone before many days. “My mother is 97 years old, and she has fulfilled the mission of this world entrusted by God and embraced it in the arms of the Lord.” And I sent a reply to her like this. “I have gratitude to the Lord that your mother have lived long in the grace and salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is said in the Bible, Moses when he was 120 years old, he left this world under God’s call, but his eyes hadn’t been blurred and his energy was not weak. Your mother hadn’t lived as long as Moses, but had long life under modern situations and fulfilled his mission, so I have no choice but to thank the Lord God for your mother. I pray for you to be comforted in the Holy Spirit and cheer up.” Like that, it is important above all for person to fulfill one’s mission, in good health within the lessons of believing in Christ Jesus.

 

On this land full of death and starvation due to the devastation of Korean war in the past, the Lord has allowed peace and development for Korean. Many teenagers have grown up and developed the industry, and now this country became the world’s leading developed country. Now the number of elderly people have been increasing greatly, as the youth at that time have grown older. Christians should not lament that they are elderly, but should live hard with mature faith and wisdom as the aged. With the wisdom of years and faith, which is more advantageous than young people, in the Lord, let’s strive to have a great life like Moses.

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on June 25th 2023)