By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

What Are You Looking For?

Faith is the assurance of something not seen. The challenge of faith is to accept what is not seen as true and live with the assurance that what is not seen will come to pass. Faith has been the same from the beginning. Moses recorded the story of the creation of the world that took place eons before he was born. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice because of his faith in the word of God. Enoch had such incredible faith that God took him home with Him. What did Noah understand about a global flood? Abraham lived believing in things he could not see, but every part of his life was faithful to what God said.

Moses wrote the story of Genesis through faith and then described his own birth and suffering of the Hebrews in Egypt. The book of Exodus tells the story of the Hebrew people who became the apple of God’s eye as the nation of Israel. Moses was born in a land that was cruel and harsh. Because the ruler of Egypt feared the rise of the Hebrew population, he ordered the baby boys born to the Hebrew women to be killed. The parents of Moses feared God more than Pharaoh and preserved the young child’s life. Through the providence of God, Moses was discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised as a prince of Egypt. He was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter with all the Egyptian hierarchy’s wealth, prestige, and honor. Moses was educated in the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a notable man who was mighty in words and deeds.

Few men lived such a favored life as Moses, son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He wore the finest clothes, ate the finest foods, and walked among the people as a man of great privilege. He knew he was a Hebrew and considered himself as the savior of his people. There was a seed planted deep within his heart that made him realize that all the trappings of the Egyptian world were vanity. When Moses came of age, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. To the shock of those around him, Moses turned away from the opulence, prestige, and honor to be called part of the family of the ruler of Egypt. He chose to share in the affliction of his people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of a sinful and corrupt world.

The quality of a man’s life is what he looks for. Moses had all the blessings and temptations of the world at his feet, but he needed something deeper. His relationship with the one true God brought him greater blessings than what the world could offer. Moses looked for something far more valuable than the world’s fleeting pleasures. Faith led him to look for an eternal reward. Life is short and full of vanity. It is sad how many people fill their lives to gain the whole world and lose their souls. They get what they are looking for, but at the end of life, they find an empty coffin of broken promises. Moses knew the value of seeking an eternal reward.

The quality of life is determined by what a person views and desires. Many seek after the wealth of the world with all its trappings. The desire for pleasurable fulfillment drives the carnal nature of the world. Human wisdom is the trap many fall into, believing that the greater the knowledge, the greater the happiness. Moses had everything the world could offer and more, but he knew there was more to life than what his eyes saw. His heart saw a greater prize in the upward calling of holiness and righteousness.

To find true happiness in life, turn your eyes to God. He will bless you with greater riches and knowledge than what the world offers. God will give you eternal happiness. What are you looking for? Whatever that is, you will find it. The question is, “Is it worth your soul?”