Before I begin this short letter to you, you must be aware that Jesus is God, that the Holy Spirit is Jesus, and that God is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, three in one, yet separate, distinct personalities.
In the times before Christ came to this earth to sacrifice Himself for our sins, He was not waiting around in the background, so to speak, watching as the Father “took care of business” in the Old Testament, waiting His turn with the people of earth so that He could do the New Testament, these three never act independently, and are always in agreement with all that they, He, does.
Moses at the burning bush, (Exo. 3:1-4:17) when the Lord spoke to him, listened at first, but after a very short time began to give God reasons why he should not be chosen for the task that the Lord had set before him, so much so that, “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.” (Exo. 4:14) Much later, when for some reason, many think it was because of the words of his wife, he neglected to circumcise his son, in the way the Lord was going to kill him, (Exo. 4:24) and then when Moses disobeyed the Lord by striking the rock instead of speaking to it, (Numb. 20:8-11) the Lord said to him, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” (Numb. 20:12)
This Moses was called by God Himself “My servant,” (Numb 12:7) an extremely high honor, yet because of the last action he performed, not as the Lord said, but more than likely because he was fed up that day with the nearly constant complaining of the people, people who only obeyed when either they got what they wanted or were destroyed by the Lord because of their disobedience, he was not allowed to walk into the promised land.
In other words, like a lot of people who dare to call themselves by the name of the Son of God, will serve when they get what they want, or when the situation is not like they want it. They like to bastardize the word grace to make it fit what they like.
There are quite a few “ifs” in the New Testament, the one little word that many of these individuals do not like to hear, for they believe it puts a stipulation on that word grace, it says that something is required of them, and they just want a grace filled, happy little life with no major inconveniences so they are not bothered with having to be a servant. Every one of these “ifs,” every time the word appears in the Scriptures, has a connotation to it, it requires something from us, the Lord requires something, and that is the reason that you must be aware of the life of Moses in the areas mentioned here, one mistake, no promised land, and it is also why you needed to be made aware, if only in a small way, that Jesus is God, and God does not change. (Malachi 3:6)
If you have been saved by grace through faith, (Eph. 2:8) then you are no longer the person you used to be before the cross of Christ, and not just in an outward appearance. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) Not just because you do not drink or do drugs anymore, not because you do not swear and curse like you used to, not because you have different friends, go to church, behave in an appropriate manner now, but because you mind is not the same as it was before that day, you do not even think the same as you used to.
These thoughts are not forced, in fact at times to those newly saved, they almost seem like an invading intelligence, a conviction to not be, to not do what you were just a short time ago, you have been made aware of sin, and sin, all sin is against God. (Psalm 51:4) But there are those “ifs,” and they are, in essence, the commandments of following Christ, of desiring to be led by Him, at any cost.
The wrath of God abides upon those who do not have the Son, (John 3:36) it is merciless, all consuming, and it will never be quenched. The same God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament, if you believe that grace is simply a handout to all that ask, think again.
Your desire to serve God is directly proportional to the love that you have for Him, to the reverential awe and respect that He holds within your heart.
Grace is not the free ride that many suppose it to be, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) This is not a “get out of jail” card that enables us to not be concerned with keeping our bodies, our minds, under subjection. (1 Cor. 9:27) Servants of God are expected to serve, in love for the glory of God, anything else is less than what we are to be. Ask Moses.
