“No Place For You”
A long time ago a group of men surveyed a small piece of
land with high hopes that it would someday serve God. I am sure they looked
around and prayed over the land with prayers that God would use the land to
bring many people to come to know Christ. They knew the land had potential of
good soil, the kind that seeds of ministry will take hold and produce a
harvest. They knew that God could use this piece of land to do things beyond
their sight. Yes, it was good land and they had seeds to plant but they would
never see all of the harvest this land would bring. When they struck the ground
with the tools to build McCains Cumberland Presbyterian Church, they had no
idea that in year 2017 (over 200 years later) it would still be serving God and producing a harvest.
They had no idea their plant would survive many storms and season changes that
include multiply wars (one that was fought on the very ground they stood), a
depression, tragedies, natural disasters, recessions, divisions, and when these
storms struck the roots of the plant would only dig deeper to hold its ground.
They didn’t know. They would never know because there seeds of ministry would
continue to grow and produce a harvest far beyond their life. Their obedience
created a legacy and that legacy would continue to bring people closer to God
for generations. And, it still is bringing people closer to God.
Perhaps they didn’t know that their plant would grow and
serve beyond their own life. Perhaps they did not know that God would not let
them witness the growth of the plant with human eyes. Perhaps they did not know
that hundreds of God’s obedient gardeners would come along and water the plant
as they still are today. But, that is how seeds of ministry are planted. That
is how something great begins. That is how God works in the world. God calls on
a faithful and obedient servant to plant a seed. It is only a vision or a small
act of obedience. Then, many others come along and water that seed and they
help it to grow. Those people are like gardeners of ministry, people like you.
Then that plant produces fruit that either serves other people or it falls into
soil and creates another plant of ministry. It continues to branch out and
serve many all because of one plan, one vision, one act of obedience the lives
of many people are changed.
I wonder if Moses knew what his act of obedience would
accomplish. Did he know what it would bring? For one hundred twenty years he
was a servant of God. In his years as an adolescent, living in the wealth of
Pharaoh’s palace did he know what he would create for God? I am sure he did
not. Did he know that his obedience would lead him to be one of the greatest
prophets to ever walk on earth? I am sure he did not. I wonder when it occurred
to Moses that he would be the one to lead God’s people out of slavery and
create a nation for them? Or, did it ever? I sometimes feel like Moses simply
saw a need, worked up some courage, and listened to God’s instructions. Now, it
is quite likely that he did not know that he was going to be completely
successful at liberating all of these people. I am sure Moses had confidence in
God but he was also human. I am sure he had his doubts. I am sure he especially
had his doubts when those Israelites were defiant against he and God. I am sure there were
times that Moses wanted to give up on the Israelites. I am sure there were
times that he wanted to give up on God. But, his obedience to God took
precedence. Moses led these folks out of slavery, through a vast wilderness,
met all of there physical and spiritual needs, and he did this because he was
planting a seed of ministry; he was being obedient to God.
During his journey in leading these people out of captivity and
into the Promised Land Moses is informed by God that he will not be permitted
to enter the land himself. He has been a faithful and obedient servant to God
but he will not have the pleasure of watching his ministry Grow. Why? You might
ask. Why would God give so much responsibility and not let God’s servant enjoy
the benefits of his obedience? Three times God submits the divine “no” to Moses
on entering the Promised Land. Each time the reader is allowed to make an
assumption of why but actually God doesn’t give a very specific reason for not
permitting Moses to enter. There’s one time that one may assume that he was
unfaithful or presumptuous for a moment but this is the man that has been far
more loyal than most of God’s prophets. In the story it would almost seem that
God just pacifies his servant until the right time. Moses wants to see the
product of his ministry. He want’s to know what will happen to all of these
people that he has led. It is almost like God simply tells Moses, “Don’t worry
about that right now. Let’s focus on what matters, one step at a time.”
It was after a long hard journey over years in the wilderness
that they had finally come to the prize that God had promised them. Their
moment had come. Moses had not only led them to their home but had helped them
develop a governing system for them. One of the last elements of them becoming
a nation was the soil to build on and they had arrived. Then Moses took his
last hike to the top of a mountain. He hiked from the Moabite plains to Mount
Nebo to the slope of Mount Pisgah and it was there that God showed him his
accomplishment. God showed him the whole land, all of the parts of the Promised
Land. God showed him further than the human eye could see. God said, “This is
the land that I have promised you and I have shown it to you with your own
eyes. But, you cannot cross into it.” Then Moses died.
Many theologians have reflected and speculated on why God
would not allow Moses to step foot into this new land. Of course he was 120
years old and it was definitely getting close to time but the story tells us
that he was in good health and he could still handle it. Let’s face it; he just
hiked to the top of a huge mountain so it wasn’t like he didn’t have vigor left
in him. Let me leave you with this to think about. The greatest goal for Moses
and the Israelites was the arrival to their new land. That was the prize, the
goal, the Promised Land, and it was a new beginning of life for many people. It
was a huge deal! But, God would not let Moses touch it. I think God said no to
Moses because it was not good enough for him. The Promised Land, the prize, the
award, was not good enough for this faithful servant. God wanted to give him
something much greater. So Moses died. God said, “Here is your prize my servant.
You can see all of it. But, this is no place for you. It is not good enough. I
have your place; come with me.”
Moses could not see what his seeds of ministry would grow
into; and oh how they grew! The minor and major prophets could not see what
their seeds of ministry would grow in to. Jesse, the father of David, could not
see what his seeds of ministry would grow in to. Marry and Joseph could not see
what there seeds of ministry would grow into. The disciples, the gospel
writers, the epistle writers, or loyal leaders of the first churches could not
see what there seeds of ministry would grow in to. The founders of our
denomination did not know that there would be thousands of people called
Cumberland Presbyterians serving God because of some little seeds they planted.
When those men surveyed this land looking for the right place to build a
sanctuary, they had no idea that two hundred years later that building would
still be serving God. There obedience to God and to plant seeds of ministry
changed lives for generations and it will continue to change lives for many
more.
Obedient servants of God, disciples, ministers (that is all
of us), are called to plant seeds of ministry during our lives here on earth.
We are called to plant seeds and water other seeds. If we plant seeds on good
soil, we will never see them grow to their potential. We will never see it,
because this is no place for us. Our reward is much greater.
Nothing is impossible for our God. God simply used an
obedient servant to lead a group of people that created a great nation. God can
use you to do great things. You are called to plant seeds of ministry. What you
do now may affect people for generations to come. Do not let fear restrain you
from serving God. Do not let obstacles and barriers restrict you from planting
or watering seeds of ministry. The small action you take now might grow into
something life changing for hundreds or more people in the future. Listen to
God, be obedient to God, and plant and nourish seeds of ministry. Allow God to
use you to make God’s presence bright in the world.
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