By David Ettinger
Silly Depiction
I know the movie The Ten Commandments is a classic, but there is one scene that really gets under my skin.
At the end, when Moses apparently goes off to his death, he seems to have some kind of mystical relationship with God that renders him other-worldly. When his wife tells him she loves him, he just stares at her like she is some kind of leper, turns away wordlessly and exits, I gather, for his heavenly ascent.
This silly Hollywood depiction of Moses as being beyond common mortal feelings and emotions misses the mark of realistic Christianity – that somehow those who know the Lord are exempt from the limitations of natural human frailty and constraint.
By contrast, the Christian life in this world is as common as it gets.
The Truth About Moses
Far from being a mystic guru who couldn’t even tell his wife he loved her, Moses was a servant of God whose trials increased rather than decreased once becoming the Lord’s vessel.
In Exodus 4:24-26, the Lord was on the verge of taking Moses’ life until his wife Zipporah stepped in. In Exodus 18:13-14, we discover that Moses spent his days “from morning till evening” judging legal cases the Israelites brought to him. Such misery would have continued until his father-in-law Jethro intervened.
And then there is the 38-year gap between Numbers 19:22 and Numbers 20:1 where nothing of significance occurred during the Israelites’ desert wanderings which merited biblical documentation. Apparently Moses woke up every day, perhaps headed over to the Tabernacle to check on things, handled some big disputes, helped raise his two sons, and maybe even once in while told his wife he loved her.
The point is that there was nothing spectacular or even noteworthy that occurred in Moses’ life during this extended period; he simply lived his life in obedience to God, and carried on unspectacularly day to day.
This Earthly Life
And this is exactly what life in the flesh is for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we are saved from our sins and have eternal life (John 3:16), and have been granted the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Yes, there are wonderful emotional moments with the Lord that rocket our spirits into the stratosphere, but these are rare and not the “stuff” on which life in the flesh is to be based.
The reason for this is that this world is not our home. We read:
- “… our citizenship is in heaven [as opposed to here on earth]. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ …” (Philippians 3:20).
- “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells [because it sure doesn’t dwell on this present heaven and Earth]” (2 Peter 3:13).
- Jesus, speaking of His disciples, says: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world” (John 17:14).
No, our citizenship is not here; we are but strangers passing by. As such we are to live our lives “commonly,” our conduct humble and obedient. The prophet Isaiah says: “The fruit of … righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17). A few chapters earlier, he said: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (30:15).
The Christian Life
Far from being mystical and other-worldly, the Christian life is one of repentance, righteousness, peace, and quietness – at least, so much as is possible. This is because life – on this side of Christ’s return – is played out in a fallen and sin-stained realm of reality. The physical body is corrupt and crumbling, and we experience the frailty of it daily, especially as we age.
The Christian’s physical life is one of struggle, pain, and striving so long as we are in the flesh. Yes, unimaginable glory awaits, but for now, we labor and toil. Yes, we have overcome eternal death, but for now, we exist in the “38-year wilderness” doing the Lord’s bidding in humility, submission, and quietness.
God will take us home to glory when He is good and ready to, but in the interim, let us embrace the “commonness” of our wilderness life, striving to do His bidding at all times. In the meantime, if you’re really feeling up to it, perhaps you can even express your love for your spouse every now and then!
EttingerWriting.com 
Bruce Cooper
November 22, 2021
Loved this post David! I don’t know how many times the thought has crossed my mind, especially as I read and get to know so many other Christians that we infrequently or frequently communicate with via this medium, how common indeed we all are. Just normal people, everyday people, sometimes gaining a step or two forward and sometimes back. And if we can see that, which we really should, you know darn well that God also sees it, probably a lot clearer than we do. And what does God ask of most of us? Ephesians 4:28 (among many similar Scriptures verses) tells us: “The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.” Labor and share with those have need, building one another up, just like you just did. Blessings!
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Tom
November 22, 2021
Good thoughts, David. There are aberrant “Christian” groups/movements that promote emotionalism/experientialism/mysticism, as if the Christian life was chasing down one religious emotional high after another…until the doctor tells the person they have cancer.
Our walk with Christ is usually in the common, everyday, and we can make a difference in someone’s life today, even a small one, by God’s grace.
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dettinger47
November 22, 2021
Well said, Tom. Amen.
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seekingdivineperspective
November 22, 2021
I remember many years ago when I decided to give soap operas a try. I noticed that one day something very earth-shaking would occur or be revealed, but then for the next week or two all the various characters would spend the whole episode talking about it and reacting to the news.
Your post made me think about my life as a Christ-follower being somewhat that way. I don’t think of my life as a believer as common or ordinary. (My favorite t-shirt says, “If being a Christian is boring, you’re doing it wrong.”) Mabe it’s because I majored in drama, but I do love the exciting and challenging times when God clearly manifests Himself. One day I will experience an answer to prayer that’s remarkable, surprising, or even ironic. Then I will spend the next week or two thanking God for it, journaling about it, telling individuals about it, sharing it with the church – and nowadays, blogging about it! (LOL) I may be doing ordinary things on those days, but I have something exciting to think about while I’m doing them.
So, by the time I run out of people to tell or stories to write about that awesome thing God did – BOOM! He does something awesome again! (Is it just my perspective?)
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dettinger47
November 22, 2021
Yes, it’s your perspective — but a great one! Thank you for sharing this very positive view of the Christian life!
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The Quiet Roarer
November 22, 2021
Hello David, some great thoughts here! It can indeed feel like we exist in the wilderness, yet I have found that even in the wilderness there are miracles in the every day mundane if only we have eyes to see them! Jesus said He came to give us life in all its abundance, and He doesn’t lie, so I tend to think the problem is our perspective. Even as we battle with our flesh and failing bodies we can go about our “ordinary” with attitudes of gratitude and that is where I think the promised abundance is found! Blessings, Jo
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dettinger47
November 22, 2021
Thank you, Jo. Well said!
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Gary Fultz
November 22, 2021
You hit it right on David. We somehow think that if we are really living the Christian life like God wants us to we should go from one spiritual adrenaline rush to another. When it doesn’t happen we try to make something happen.
I’ve had God-like things happen in and around me but I sure understand the 39 years of everyday life stuff in-between. I have recently asked the Lord about that very thing.
Tomorrow I plan on walking on water but it helps that the lake froze over.
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dettinger47
November 22, 2021
Amen. Well said, Gary.
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vicklea
November 23, 2021
I loved this analogy that reminds us of Moses being ordinary and God expecting us to live our regular lives, influencing others for Christ as we go about our life here on earth. Also, the reminder about this earth being our temporary home is very timely for me. Thanks, David. I’m reblogging because it definitely was enlightening!
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dettinger47
November 23, 2021
Thank you, Vickie!
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Lisa Beth
November 23, 2021
I really agree…but also kind of disagree. My Christian walk was very exciting when I was a Parole Officer and also involved in an Indian ministry for many years. I cannot replicate that, cannot back peddle. So my life is more “common” or uneventful.
But, I don’t agree that we, who have the Spirit of God in us, should not expect supernatural.
When Jesus said that those who have faith in Him “will do even greater things than these” I don’t think He was referring to raising the dead or walking on water. Those are spectacular but temporary.
I believe that the transformation of man’s heart, lasting for all eternity, is a greater work. Being “conformed to the image of His Son is a greater work, given the hardness of man’s heart and stubborn flesh.
If our steps are ordered by God, we may look ordinary but I want to expect the extraordinary. Waiting on the Lord in prayer seems uneventful but His answer to our heart, thru His word, thru ordained circumstance is very eventful!
I’m so glad that God chose many seniors to serve Him. Maybe when our strength is diminished and aches set in we will totally depend upon His strength and call.
I hope so David. I want to be content in everyday ordinary living but also keep my heart alert to His divine call and appointment.
Thank you brother for always stirring our hearts!
P.S. you’re so right about loving our spouses – so many Christians expect to serve God while neglecting this first calling!
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dettinger47
November 23, 2021
Great post, Lisa Beth, and so well said! Sounds like this could really be the outline for your next blog? Just a thought.
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Lisa Beth
November 23, 2021
Maybe! Thank you David.
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dettinger47
November 22, 2021
Thank you for reblog, Bruce.
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