Hebrews 11:25 “He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.”​

Growing up in the country afforded everything two young boys could want in life. The freedom to run and play with no time restraints. Our only alarm clock was the sun going down. Those years were the best…just me and my big brother, “Hanky”, loving life to the max! We spent our days outside in the fresh country air playing in the trees behind our small humble home in Southern California. Later on in life my brother and I were blessed with two additional siblings who are the best. Over the years, and across the miles my family has remained tight and close and we have stood the test of time because of our love for Christ…this love that came later in life when we needed a Savior and a Friend.

Recently, I woke up with a memory of my brother and a simple phrase that he would use on me to win whatever bet we made! If it was flipping the coin for the last donut, getting to ride the bike a second time when it was my turn to ride, or having to run back home to get us lunch when we were having so much fun playing “army” with our neighbor friends, he always won. How did he do it!?! Who made him the “king of the mountain” every time? I thought this brother of mine was just a lucky guy – nothing can keep him from winning. The phrase Hanky would use to win every time was, “Heads or tails, I win, you lose!” It sounded right. I mean after all, at eight years old, I had to believe my brother had my best interest at heart, but still, how did he win every time? It took about a year down the road (when I became a much wiser kid) and it hit me, “Heads or tails, I win, you lose,” meant I had no chance at all to ever become “king of the mountain.” I was going to lose every time. The odds against me were 100% – you lose!

So, how does this story fit into our Scripture verse? I want to take you back in time to another true event in history that tells us about another, “I win, you lose,” story. It’s the event in the life of Moses. The Pharaoh had put out an edict that all Israelite male children were to be put to death. Moses’ parents saw that, “… he was no ordinary child and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23). Moses’ life was spared and he grew up, adopted into the King’s household. The story goes on, and Moses, now a grown man, realizes he has a purpose in life. He wasn’t just spared from death as a child for nothing. You see, God has a purpose for each of our lives.

The Bible says, “By faith, Moses’ parents hid him…By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. By faith he regarded disgrace for the sake of God’s word as greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith…By faith…” (Hebrews 11: 24-28).

Consider this, five times in this passage the word “faith” is used. Moses literally considered all his choices he made in life to be for the glory of God. By faith he refused to engage in the pleasures of sin (verses 24-25); by faith he chose to be rewarded in heaven rather than enjoy all the riches of Egypt (verse 26); and by faith he left the familiar, Egypt, and saw the invisible God (verse 27). WOW! Do you get the picture? It was all by faith that Moses was able to do the unthinkable, the impossible, the unspeakable…the opposite of everything that you and I would probably do if we were in his position. You see, in the end Moses knew there were two roads to travel. He could choose to know God in this life and to follow the pathway leading to heaven or he could choose “to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time” and lose it all. For Moses, he could say to Pharaoh, “I Win, You lose.”

Think about the following statements. I encourage you to speak these truths over your life and begin to watch your faith grow:

• I belong to God and nothing can take Him away from me.

• There are greater riches untold – even greater than all the treasures of Egypt combined waiting those who believe in the living God.

• Even though I’m not giving in to the pleasures of sin right here, right now, and even though I am being mistreated for my decision to follow You, I win in the end, you lose.

• My faith in God gives me the ability to endure all this “junk in life” because I can see by faith the invisible God. (Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

• I believe in the living God who freed us from our Egypt, from our sins, and He gave us new life and a new hope to want to seek after Him no matter what!

Just like Moses, we need to learn how to use our faith to the fullest…yes, it IS possible. We serve the same God, the God of Moses, Abraham, and Isaac. But living life to the fullest and by faith takes a conscious effort. Every step must be made with determination. My youngest little grandchild, Hazy Surf, is twelve months old and stepping out and mastering her effort to walk. She continues to attempt to take one step after the other. With each step comes a fall, then back to her feet and another fall. Hazy is determined to walk by faith knowing her parents are right there walking alongside her. In the same way, our faith helps us to be victorious over the temptations of the world (1 John 5:5). Faith brings about victories in our life that we could never do on our own because Jesus is right beside us…he is the object of our faith. Our faith is what assures us that our heavenly Father is walking along side us…we are never alone. He is there to catch us when we fall, again and again and again.

Let’s exert our faith to the fullest and when you exert your faith – don’t be afraid!

“I win, you lose” is a powerful assertion that makes us more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37). Choose to know God, to see Him by faith, and to enjoy even now His presence and one day soon, the riches that are ours in Christ (Ephesians 2:6-7).