Title Overconfidence, Frustration, Consecration/Hebrews 11:23-26
Contents May is Family Month. The first week is Children's Sunday, the second week is Mother's Day, and today, the third Sunday, is Youth Sunday. May is called May in English, which means "youth". So, since ancient times, May has been called the month of youth. Poet Cheonmyeong Noh sang of May, saying, "Young man, let's all look up at the night sky in May. There are unpolluted stars."
18th of May is Coming of Age Day. In the old days, according to a traditional Korean ritual, the coming-of-age ceremony was held for young people who turned 20 on this day. When a man reaches the age of 20, he is treated as an adult by putting his braided hair up, putting on a top, and putting a crown over it. This is called custom. When the maiden turned 15, she raised her braided hair, braided the side, and put a hairpin and made her into an adult. It was called Gyerye ( 禮) by writing the hairpin Gye ( ).
But today, these rituals have completely disappeared. If there is, they have made Coming of Age Day, but not many people know about this day. If you look at our church, we have a lot of young believers compared to other churches. When I went to visit, people in their 20s and 30s accounted for a whopping 45%. So today, on Youth Sunday, I thought it would be good to give a sermon to young believers, so I prepared it.
Among the great men in the Bible, there is a man named Moses. Today, looking at the life of Moses, we are going to give a biblical lesson especially to young people.
Moses is unique from birth. He was born under the rule of Egypt. He was born when everyone who gave birth to a son died. When his parents hid and reared Moses, who was born, when he grew up and could no longer keep him hidden, Moses was put in a reed box and thrown into the river. At the same time, Pharaoh's daughter, who was bathing in the lower reaches of the river, rescued him, and Moses grew up in the palace. From this moment on, Moses lives for 120 years in a turbulent environment.
These 120 years are often divided into three periods.
First, the first period is 40 years of court life. This period is referred to as the age of self-confidence.
After Moses visits the court, he is educated at the court. First, you receive academic training. At that time, the civilization of Egypt was the best in the world. You will learn the world's best academics at the Royal Palace University. And build up your skills as a samurai. Then, when there is a cry, he himself goes out and fights and wins and wins. And get the prince's education. There were several princes, but Moses is said to have stood out among them. In this way, Moses is growing up as a warrior with the best abilities at the time.
At this time, Moses lives in the elite consciousness. That is why this period is called the age of self-confidence. Look. Moses is young. Then there's the princess's son. The bones were magnificent. When Stephen evaluated him, he said, "He was beautiful in God's sight."
"(Acts 7:20) Then Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God, and he was raised in his father's house for three months."
There, he also had literary and dance skills. I grew up to be a person who lacked nothing. It is the object of admiration of many people. I grew up to be a person who can do anything I want to do. At this point, you can only fall into your overconfidence.
Nothing is impossible for him. Frustration, failure, and giving up are not in his dictionary. It is full of youth, courage, dreams and spirit. Indeed, I live as a person who has nothing to go through under the sky.
This is the epitome of today's youth. Today's young people have this kind of thinking and there's no such thing as water. It's not just Napoleon, but today's youth are bold, erratic, and even arrogant. At this time, even God is not good. I have more confidence in my own skills. My father's words are not good either. I know it's big on its own. The advice doesn't work either. I don't even try to listen. So, at this time, I am an uninhabited person. There is nothing visible.
Moses lived like that for 40 years. He was full of overconfidence from head to toe. At least in this world nothing is impossible for him. That is why this period is called the age of self-confidence. After this period, we enter the second period.
Second, the second period is 40 years of life in Midian. This period is called the era of japo-go. It is also called a period of frustration.
The plane takes off and takes off. It cuts through the air of the sky and soars up. So will this plane go up infinitely? When it goes up and on a certain track, it stays level, and when the time runs out, it comes down to the ground. The eagle soars vertically into the sky. But even this eagle does not climb endlessly. When you go up and get hungry, you come back down to this land. How much more would it go up indefinitely because of human ideals and dreams? As you go up, at some point, you hit the wall of reality. Then those dreams and ideals are shattered and crumbled. The walls of reality don't let those dreams, ideals, or courage fine. Break it, break it, tear it apart, and make it re-modified.
One day Moses gives strength to his neck and inspects the construction site. The workers are fighting. You see, one is an Egyptian and the other is a Hebrew. Hebrew blood now runs through Moses' body. The moment you see it, the quiet blood begins to flow back. So, he captured the Egyptian and struck him once, and he died. How strong must those fists have been since they received martial arts training? Then the Hebrews knew how to praise him. So I showed off my self in a good way.
But the reality was not that. The Hebrews did not sympathize with Moses, but accused him of it. Pharaoh is angry and orders are issued to arrest Moses. Moses immediately escaped from Egypt and fled to the wilderness of Midian, where he rotted thoroughly in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses, who was splendid in the palace, is reduced to a humble life overnight.
Life is like a beggar, with nothing to eat, nothing to drink, nothing to wear, and no comfortable bed. The most difficult thing among them all was that all my dreams were shattered. All the ideals and spirits that had only been exalted were all in vain. All of my plans for the future, which had only been splendid, were in vain. That is why this period is called the period of frustration, the period of despair.
All young people go through the same process as they mature. I go to college with a lot of dreams, ideals and courage, then graduate and go to work. The first thing the mask hits is the wilderness of Midian. As far as I know, that's not it. No one will recognize your dreams, ideals, and courage. Reality and ideal are far from each other, and the road is rough. So, most of them are frustrated by the thick wall of reality. After that, everyone is troubled and worried.
When virgins reach the age of 20 or 23, their dreams become wild. The above is also high. At this time, there is nothing visible in the world. The whole world seems to be mine. This is the time to live your dream. Then, after meeting a man and living with him, he gives birth to a child, and from then on, the dream begins to break. They go to the market to shave 100 won, wash and fill diapers after having a baby, comb their hair, and live like that without knowing what their clothes are. That's the reality. That is the honest face of human life.
Moses did. As the son of a princess, he was once overconfident in himself. I lived my life only knowing that everything was possible without impossibility in the world. So he was very proud. But when I came out to the world, that wasn't the case. I was thrown into the middle of the wilderness of Midian, and my dreams were shattered, my ideals were shattered, and I struggled in a sunken place with a thick beard in a place where there was no hope. torment. In doing so, he is looking for the cause of his failure. "Why am I like this?" "What's wrong with me?" In a low position, crouching shabby, he is desperate. So this time is referred to as the second period of Moses. It is said to be the 40 years of Midian, the age of despondency. After this period, the third period begins.
Third, the third period is the last 40 years, the period of self-consecration.
Moses prostrates himself in the depths of the wilderness, pondering, and finally arrives at a great conclusion. That's two things. One is the realization that "I thought I was the best in the world, but I found out that it wasn't." Another is self-reflection, "I thought I could do everything, but there are things that don't." And he prays with deep reflection. "Lord, what am I? It turns out that I am nothing. I am an incompetent man who can do nothing." What a sincere prayer and a great confession?
But look. "I can do everything. I am the best." God did not appear even near him when he lived in the habit of doing so. God has been silent enough to be cold. But when Moses finally got down on his knees and said, “I am nothing. I can do nothing.” Then God came to Moses.
And you say "Moses, what is in your hand? Put it on the ground." When Moses put his staff on the ground, it became a serpent. "Take it back." Moses killed the serpent and it became a staff again. What does it mean? Just like when you let go of the staff, it becomes a snake, and when you pick it up again, it becomes a staff. “If you fall out of my hand, you are a criminal, a murderer, and you are nothing but a miserable life. How strong is the message?
Second, you say "Put your hand in your bosom." Moses put his hand in his bosom and found that his hand had leprosy. "If you leave my arms, you'll be nothing but a leper, and you're a vicious murderer, so don't ever think of leaving my arms for the rest of your life." That means. This is the allusion God gave to Moses. Then God speaks to Moses. "Now do not hesitate and go to Egypt, and go and rescue my people from their affliction." And God sends Moses to Egypt.
Then Moses goes into Egypt without a word. Go and risk all kinds of danger and lead the people out. That is why this time is called “the time of self-consecration”. In the end, Moses becomes a mature human being and dedicates his old life to God, and to the nation and country with joy. This is Moses' life.
You too must have had times like this. At one time, when I was young and wanted to become something, I was arrogant and arrogant at that time, and I would have lived without knowing the fear of the sky. At that time, God was also punished. If you ask him to go to church, he will say that he will go when he is old. Then they roam the mountains, the rivers, and play golf. Then, one day, he experiences Midian, which is completely broken down to the point that he thinks it is not. When I finally lay on the hospital bed, many of you will realize that this is not the case. After failing, sitting in a low seat, there must be some who confessed that it was not until then. Then there will be some who come before the Lord.
Especially, young believers, I want you to keep these words in mind. Try to draw closer to God when you are young, opportunity, strength, and courage. Otherwise, you will end up in Midian. Please try to live by God's hand. And try to live in the arms of God. That is the only way to ensure your future. Then God will protect your life and future.