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8:29
At the end of the day, what's more worth it... being with God, or getting what you want when you want it? Living life, we have to be careful with what we allow in our hearts, just like the Israelites did.
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Christians on College Campuses podcast. My name is Hunter Carr, and I am a graduate of Cameron University. It is so good to be back and spend time in God's Word with you. Whether you're in college, recently graduated, or simply just trying to grow your relationship with Jesus. I'm glad you're here. Today we are looking at Exodus chapter 34. This chapter comes right after Israel's failure with the golden calf. They turned away from God, but in this chapter, it shows us something really important. God is merciful, he is faithful, and willing to restore us when we turn back to him. At the beginning of the chapter, God tells Moses to make two new stone tablets, because Moses had broken the first ones after seeing everything Israel has done. And then God meets with Moses again. In verses five and seven, the Lord came down in the cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed his name the Lord. Then the Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin, but he will not leave the guilty unpunished. And I love that. God could have simply reminded Moses about Israel's failure. Instead he reminds Moses about who he is. He is compassionate, he's gracious, slow to anger, full of faithful love, and he's forgiving. And that's important for us because sometimes we allow our mistakes to become our identity. Maybe you failed a class. You probably made a bad decision. Maybe you got into a relationship you knew wasn't good for you. Maybe you've walked away from God for a season. You might think I I've just messed up too badly for God to use me. But in this chapter of 34, it reminds that our failures don't change God's character. God is still faithful, and there's an important connection here when John wrote in one of his in the first book he wrote, verse 9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And notice this word, faithful. God's forgiveness isn't based on whether we feel worthy of it. Moses then responds by asking God to continue going with his people. And I think that's really important. Moses wasn't just asking God for blessings, he was asking for his presence. Sometimes our prayers might sound like, God give me this job. God give me give me this relationship. Make this situation work out. And there's nothing wrong with asking God for those things, but in Exodus chapter 34, that it reminds us that the greatest thing we can ask for is God be with me. Because what good is having the perfect career if we're walking away from God? What good is having success if we're not becoming more like Jesus? What good is getting everything we want if we lose our relationship with God in the process? Then God gives Israel another warning about living among the nations around them. He tells them not to worship other gods or even make agreements that would pull them away from him. And this has a really good strong connection with us college students and young adults. College is a season where you're surrounded by all kinds of ideas, lifestyles, relationships, and influences. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. We're called to love people and be around people who don't believe exactly what we believe. But we have to be careful about what influences our hearts. Paul wrote in Romans, do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. The world is constantly telling us what we're supposed to value success, money, popularity, relationships, appearance. But following Jesus means allowing God's word to shape what we value instead. And then we get to one of my favorite moments in this chapter. Moses comes down from Mount Mount Sinai after spending time with God, and his face is shining, glowing. In verse 29, as Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended from the mountain, he did not know that the skin of his face shone as a result of speaking with the Lord. Moses didn't come down trying to make his face shine. It happened because he had been with God. When we spend time with Jesus, it should affect the way we live. People should be able to see something different in us. Not because we're trying to look more Christian, but because we've actually been spending time with Christ. Jesus says something similar in Matthew 5 16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Moses' face reflected the time he spent time with God. Our lives should reflect the time we spend with Jesus. So here's what I want us to take away from this chapter. First, your failure doesn't have to be the end of your story. Israel messed up badly, but God gave them another opportunity. If you messed up, don't run away from God, run towards him. Second, don't just ask God for what he can give you. Ask for his presence. Ask for him to be with you. Because his presence is more valuable than anything this world can offer. And finally, spend enough time with Jesus that people can see him in your life. You don't have to force it, you don't have to pretend. Just spend time with him, allow him to change you, and let that transformation show through the way you live. Let's pray. Father, thank you for reminding us through this chapter that you are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and full of faithful love. Thank you that our failures don't change who you are. Help us turn toward you when we mess up instead of running away from you. Help us desire your presence more than success and popularity, relationships, or anything this world offers. As we go through the stage of college and careers as young adults, help us stand firm in our faith and allow your word to shape the way we live. And Lord, help us spend enough time with you that people can see Jesus through our lives. We love you and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
