But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” – Numbers 20:12

Back when I was a kid, I loved the movie Rocky III.  There is no telling how many times I watched it.  One day, my mom asked me why I watched it so much, I said, “I’m hoping Mr. T will eventually win that last fight.”  I guess with the A-Team being one of my favorite shows back in the day, I was more of a Clubber Lang fan than a Rocky fan.  To this day, every time I get to numbers 20 in the Bible, I think, “Surely God will let Moses in anyway.”  Just like Rocky III when I was a kid, something in my adult mind thinks I’m going to see a different result.  But the result is always the same, Moses gets to see the land from a mountaintop, but does not get to enter.  

I guess this shouldn’t surprise me.  I look back on my life, especially as a teenager going to church and making the commitment to live for the Lord.  Like Moses, I did not trust Him enough to demonstrate his holiness to the people of my school.  You know what?  He isn’t letting me go back and do what I wish I would have done.  That time is past.  I had the chance to do the right thing.  I even knew the right things to do, but I chose my way over His way.  

As a teacher, I’ve seen kids allowed to blow off 40 days out of the 45 in the nine weeks.  They didn’t come to school and certainly didn’t do any work.  They beg, and even their parents call and beg for them to be able to do something so they can receive a passing grade.  I’ve even seen a young person passed who did nothing all year long.  What does this teach the rising generation?  I think it teaches them that there is always another chance.  But according to the Bible, eventually you run out of chances.  Sometimes, your wrong choice has serious consequences.  

What I can do is not blow today.  If you have breath in your lungs, you don’t have to blow it either.  I can pray, ask God to fill me with His Spirit, take a deep breath, and walk in His ways making every effort to demonstrate His holiness to the people.  

With all my heart, I want this.

Lord, make me Holy.  Give me the power to live this stuff out.  Like Moses, in anger I think, say, and do things that I know I can never take back.  Each time is a missed opportunity to show that I’m learning to be more and more like You.  Help me, Lord.  There is no one like You!  You have demonstrated Your holiness to all of us.  Thank You for living the perfect life and making the perfect sacrifice that I might be saved.  Help me live for You for the rest of my days.  Amen