Going Before You

 

So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-6 ESV).

 

As we prepare to welcome 2022 I hope you have a life verse. If not, then my strongest encouragement is to find that one verse that is so impactful and important in your life that it becomes the central focus of all of your decisions. Mine was revealed clearly early in 1970. Mary and I were newlyweds when our pastor, Bailey Stone, asked me to preach in his absence on a Wednesday night at First Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas. I was a very young believer and had just made the decision to pursue a ministerial career. Anxious does not quite convey my emotion as I prepared and approached that evening.

 

I was comforted by the thought that it was a Wednesday evening service. Traditionally the crowd is much smaller than a Sunday morning service, so at least that would be a help. I was also encouraged that I had plenty of time to write and memorize the message. Bailey had given me a month of advance notice. However, I was terrified that this was to be my first time to preach. Mary would be there. Her Dad and Mom would be there. The question of failure swirled in my mind. “What if…” seemed to be the central question facing me. I poured myself into preparation. I wrote and rewrote the sermon. I practiced it over and over. Yet, I wondered if I was ready.

 

The evening of February 11, 1970 came much too quickly. Meeting Ray Butler, a friend and deacon in the church in the office before walking to the sanctuary, we prayed together for a few moments and he then told me, “The sanctuary is packed. It’s the biggest crowd we’ve had on a Wednesday since I’ve been a member.” Great… there goes one of my hopes. I was still hopeful that I was prepared. He then said, “Oh, don’t worry about the time. We’ve shortened the music and given you thirty minutes.” Great… how am I going to stretch 15-18 minutes of sermon into 30 minutes! We walked in silence down the hall to the side entrance and he stopped at the door and handed me a telegram. It was from Bailey. It said: “Read Deuteronomy 31:6. Wish I could be there with you. Know I am praying. H. Bailey Stone” I still have that yellow telegram to this day. “Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” became my life verse that moment. God was going before me… He would not fail! True then and true now!