And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face . . . and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12
I am apparently known for the phrase, Strong Work. It’s my go-to compliment for a job well done and I say it often enough that my coworkers often parrot it back to me. It’s even shown up on T-shirts, posters, and a sign that my wife made for my home gym. It’s my verbal pat-on-the-back when someone has done something praiseworthy and even though I think my coworkers might be mocking me when they say it back to me, I like hearing it.
Strong work. That’s what I want to hear God say to me at the end of my life. I don’t often think in terms of my mortality and eternity, but at a funeral a while ago, I got to contemplating the entirety of my life. What would I want my tombstone to say? What do I hope to hear from God when I meet him? Nearing the end of his life, the apostle Paul confidently claimed, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). I’d one day like to be able to say that about myself and I’d love to hear something similar from God. I don’t want to get to the end of my life and realized that I wasted it on selfish pursuits.
Today’s passage tells us of the end of Moses’ life, a life of which he could be proud. Yes, he made some mistakes – for which he paid dearly – but he followed God’s will, leading his people. God loved Moses and because of his obedience, Moses enjoyed an intimate relationship with God. Upon his death, God personally buried Moses (Deuteronomy 34:6) as he ushered him into eternity. Moses lived a life of which he could be proud and at the end, I’m sure God said something like, Strong work Moses.
I’d like to hear that at the end of my life. I know however, that I won’t get there by accident. It’s simply not my nature to live a selfless, godly life. Rather, it’s my nature to follow myself, doing whatever I want, which is not what I want my tombstone to say. He lived for himself. If I want to be somewhere tomorrow, I must plan for it today. So, today – and every day – I must live in a manner that takes my life where I want it to go. Daily, I must point my life at God, making my thoughts, words, and actions follow. I’m no Moses or Paul, but still, when I step into eternity, I hope to hear God utter to me those words – Strong work Scott.