Verse: Hebrews 11:24-28
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
Thoughts
I want to make a simple point today: the pleasure of sin is fleeting.
If we could remember this it would keep us from so much heartache in life. First off, it is good to recognize that sin does bring pleasure. This should be obvious, but it's good to admit it. Sin feels good.
And not only does it feel good it often meets some deeper desire in our hearts. We often are more prone to sin when we are tired, stressed, anxious, and feeling down. Sin offers us an escape from reality. It makes us feel good.
The problem is, it's fleeting. Fleeting means short lived, over before you know it, not lasting. It seems so good in the moment, but then it's gone! And with nothing good to show for it.
Imagine if I offered you a choice: $100,000 today, but you only get to keep it for one day. Then whatever you don't spend you have to give back. Or $50 per day....for the rest of your life. Which would you choose? At face value it seems like you should take the $100K!! But over time the $50 per day would amass to over a million dollars! But you'd have to wait for it.
Sin is kind of like that, except....it's more like after the day is over, they not only take back your money you spent, but all the stuff you bought, and then they also come into the house and beat you up leaving you bloody and broken. Yeah. That sounds like sin.
You know how it feels right? Amazing when you sin.....terrible after.
Moses knew he had a choice. Stay in Egypt and have all the wine, all the money, and all the women he wanted. To live the life of pleasure. OR to go with God's people....and suffer. And he knew that while that life of pleasure sounded good, it wouldn't last. Even if it felt good for 30 years, eventually it would burn him out and leave him an empty shell of a person with no purpose or meaning in life. He'd rather suffer with God's people, than party without them.
What kind of choices are we making each day?
Prayer
Help me to have the wisdom to see the hollowness of sin Lord!