Suffering: Homelessness, Like Moses

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats…

King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” And the King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.”

Then He will also say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.” Then they themselves also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?” Then He will answer them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-46 (NASB)

Regarding homes on this side of Heaven, Jesus was destined to be a loser. Walking around as a circuit Preacher previewed the incredible loss to come.

‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head’ (Luke 9:58).

Regarding the palace he left behind, Moses was destined to be a mover. Floating down the river in a basket previewed his future years of displacement.

  • When Moses abandoned Pharaoh's palace,

  • When he embraced the life of a shepherd,

  • When he took his kin on a prolonged tour,

  • God's leading man understood homelessness.*

Behind him, God’s children learned a lesson; their true home wasn't any place on Earth:** neither in Egypt nor the Promised Land…

Neither in palaces nor neighborhoods; not even among loved ones who would die. Their only dependable Home was God, and He is perpetually mobile.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

  • Like Moses, you’re called to travel the world, so don't get entrenched in fancy houses.

  • Like Christ, you’re called to be circuit preachers, so don't settle down in lovely churches.

  • Like Paul, you’re called to be ambassadors, so don't spend all your time among Christians.

Media is the world’s fastest circuit, and God has equipped you to fly on it. 

SOBERING SIDEBAR: Considering desperate refugees, those who’ve lost homes from war or poverty, those waiting and pleading at our borders, do we dare turn our backs and denounce them?

What does God say in Matthew 25? He takes their suffering PERSONALLY!

And yet, another kind of homelessness oppresses innumerable masses: a sneaky spiritual displacement… that darkens eyes, hearts, hopes, and destinies.

People are confused. Bad answers abound!

Where can comfort be found and never lost?

As your King’s fast-track communicators, rising and shining in Entertainment, giving love without discrimination, refusing every tie that would bind you, pointing seeking hearts to the One True Home, you now lead Earth's wanderers to Jesus.

Suffering: Homelessness, Like Moses (Part 25)

* The Forty-Year Exodus Route Map: http://www.bible.ca/archeology/maps-bible-archeology-exodus-route.jpg

** 'For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come' (Hebrews 13:14)

** 'Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it' (1 Peter 2:11-12, The Message).

** 'If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world' (John 15:19).

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God–  to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban