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May 26, 2022 18:30pm

What Will They Say About You?

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What will they say about you?

When I was younger, that was a line from every teacher I had. From the time Diana Davis came to our class, to the time we had a speaker in an assembly, to conventions and Senior trips, it was always about reputation.

“Be on your best behavior. We have to be a good representation of Cord-Charlotte. If one person acts out, that can ruin our name.”

We got a note back from a speaker once that our teacher read to us that said we were the most respectful group of kids she had ever talked to. To me, that meant something. I took pride in knowing that we had represented our school well.

In the book of Numbers, we’ve seen the children of Israel make their way to the land God promised to them and their ancestors. But when the spies they sent out to survey the land came back with a report of giants, the people wanted to turn and run. They cried out for a new captain. Anyone but Moses. They wanted to return to their old life in Egypt, the life of slavery and bondage. They spoke out against God and wanted to stone Caleb, Joshua, Moses and Aaron for trying to talk sense into them.

God stepped in.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.” (Numbers 14:11-12)

God was willing to start over. He was ready to destroy the people for their disobedience and their disregard for God’s authority. And they deserved it. How ridiculous could you be? Did they not remember what God had done for them? Did they not remember their beginning with Jacob and his 12 sons? Did they not remember the covenant they had with God?

But even though they deserved destruction, Moses pleaded for them.

“And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them) And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” (Numbers 14:14-19)

What will they say about you, Lord? Across the land, unbelievers, especially the Egyptians, would say that God was nothing because He couldn’t even get His own people to the promised land. Moses was concerned about God’s reputation to the world.

And in His infinite wisdom and authority, God still listened to Moses and heard his cry for the people.

“And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:” (Numbers 14:21-23)

They would live, but they would never enjoy the land God had promised to them. Only Caleb and Joshua would see and claim the land. The Israelites would be sentenced to wander in the desert for 40 years.

Sin against God deserves judgment. Moses’ prayer saved the people from an instant execution. But they were still punished for their sin.

What does our reputation say about God? Don’t we realize that many people will never open a bible and study it for themselves? Our lives will be the only picture of Jesus they see! So, what will they say? Will they know Jesus is love? Will they know that He gives peace and hope? Will they see something different in you, or do you look exactly like the rest of the world? Will they hear and see you stand for what the Bible teaches, or will they hear you say, “well I believe this…” As a Christian, what sort of name are you giving for the Lord?

If you are a non-believer and you happen to read this, I just want to say, I can’t speak for all Christians, but I know personally, I haven’t always lived my life in a way that represented Christ in a good way. I called myself a Christian, but I did things, said things, and participated in things that were not Christ-like. I led people astray. There was no evidence of Jesus in my words or actions. But the Lord has graciously worked in my life to help me glorify Him. Just as He said in verse 21, “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD”, that is what I am here for. I want to help you see, that’s what you are here for, too! If you want to know more about Jesus, I’m glad to talk with you. I won’t judge, because I’ve probably been right where you are. But I’ll show you who Jesus is, not who the world thinks He is and most certainly not what you see in people who might profess Him but don’t possess Him. Let’s talk.