As we read Hebrews 11, we read through a line of former saints who exemplified faith and through whom we are taught the superiority of faith. Then we come to the example of Moses from verses 23 to 29, covering the life of Moses from infancy until the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Hebrews 11:25-26 says, “choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” Here we read of the greatness of the faith of Moses. His outlook was beyond what you can achieve in this world and instead looked heavenward. He would rather suffer in this world than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Instead, he found pleasure in Christ and looked forward to the reward that is Him.
Moses could have experienced the privileges of life in the royal family, but instead, he chose to associate with the people of Yahweh. Moses understood all of the pleasures of Egypt were only temporary. It is here for one moment and gone the next. Instead, in Christ, there are joys forevermore in His presence. It is a wealth that surpasses all that of Egypt or the entire world. So Moses was willing to be expelled from the royal family and Egypt to be associated with Yahweh’s people.
This was because Moses was conscious of the coming of the Messiah and the reproach He would face. He was a type or a foreshadowing of the ultimate appearance of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would come out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15 and Hosea 11:1). Likewise, the audience of Hebrews could identify with this because they themselves would now be expelled from the camp of Israel because of their identification with Christ and would need to bear His disgrace (Hebrews 13:13).
This type of faith is the pattern for those in Christ, just like Moses, who chose the suffering of this world rather than the fleeting pleasures of sin and Egypt’s riches to attain God’s ultimate reward. The pattern is followed by Him, who was entirely perfect in obedience and suffering Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Apostle Paul also understood the true treasure of his life. He says in Philippians 3:8, “Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Likewise, we too, are to find our treasure and reward in Christ. Matthew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Take time to ask yourself this question: Is Christ your treasure? We hear it taught and preached from many pulpits to have faith to receive prosperity and the riches of this world rather than having the faith pursue the reproach of Christ. Pursuing Christ as your treasure is an outcome of love for Jesus Christ and everything that is of Him. Acknowledging Christ is costly. It could cost your family, relationships, friendships, health, wealth, riches, status, and even your very life. Are you willing to lose the whole world to gain the greatest treasure, Jesus Christ?
You must make a choice, and it has to be either one or the other, either this world or the next with Christ. Matthew 10:32 says, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,” Jesus also says in Matthew 10:38-39, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy to me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Let us likewise decide to follow Christ in like manner. Are we choosing Christ and looking toward the eternal reward rather than seeking short-term joys and earthly treasures? The former choice may mean temporal suffering but everlasting joy. It results from believing God will perform all He has promised us in Christ. There is victory, peace, assurance, and endurance when you have such great faith when your treasure is Christ and not the riches of this world. Amen!
