Turn your gaze to heaven’s reward

Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. When I read, “for he was looking to the reward,” my heart is immediately encouraged. That’s what Holy Spirit-inspired faith does. It looks to the reward or the promise. Let’s remember what verse 6 tells us about faith. One believes that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Moses had the courage to leave Pharaoh’s house and suffer with his own people because God gave him faith to believe God would keep His word to His people. The faith God gave him was the assurance he needed to tell Pharaoh’s daughter that he was not her son and walk away from tremendous honor, wealth, and authority.  Dr. Donald Guthrie, in his commentary on Hebrews, helps us understand that Moses’ motivation was linked to Jesus’ suffering. He wrote, All that Moses suffered was in the cause of God’s plan of salvation for his people, culminating in the abuse that was heaped on the Christ himself, of which the writer is acutely conscious through this epistle.  Moses looked away from the riches he enjoyed in the king’s house and cast his eyes toward the spiritual riches he knew would be his if he identified with God’s people. In the face of great loss, sacrifice, and suffering, how was Moses so sure? The author’s point was that the faith God gave him testified that the heavenly riches he was to receive from God surpassed the earthly riches of the king of Egypt. Faith gave Moses the courage to seek the blessing promised by God to his fathers realized in Christ, even if it meant being ridiculed, reviled, insulted, and treated harshly.  Let’s be encouraged to live to love with Jesus, forsaking the passing pleasures of sin and selfishness, and looking to our reward of entering into the joy and glory of the Lord. We must, like Moses, look away from what the world offers and turn our gaze to the greater riches that are ours in Christ Jesus. The only people who can do that are those who have a faith of the same kind as Moses. If you haven’t forsaken seeking the temporary riches of this world for the eternal glories of heaven, I encourage you to ask yourself if you have the same kind of faith as Moses. Has God revealed His Son in you? Do you have His life dwelling in your heart and body? If so, rejoice! Look up, and live to love with Jesus. Count on it: the treasures and approval of this world cannot compare to what God has in store for those who take up His cause in this world. Turn your gaze to heaven’s reward.