The "look" of life!

Numbers 21:7-9 NKJV

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. [8] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." [9] So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

What a strange incident in the wilderness! The Israelites had been moaning about their plight again - moaning about God and Moses - even stating that they hated the food that the Lord had provided.

It gives a real insight to how God feels about our moans and groans - that hits home to my own heart.

Where were the people looking? They were looking at what they didn't have - no natural food or water - no home comforts etc etc.

Even our pup is getting tired of his daily food - I have to sprinkle some cheese on it to entice him to eat nowadays. How fickle is fallen creation.

God's anger is kindled by ingratitude - there's a thought!

But the hidden shadow story behind this incident is one Jesus alluded to when talking with Nicodemus about eternal life.

John 3:13-15 NLT

No one has ever gone to Heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from Heaven. [14] And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.

There it is - the "look" of life - looking to Jesus on the Cross. It's as simple as that.

There are so many distractions vying for our "look" - extravagant advertising beckoning for our attention and belief.

"Faith" in that advert converts to action for buying into the promise.

So when Jesus promises eternal life for our "look" we should grab it with all our attention and belief.

Look and live - as the old hymn states:

“Look and live,” my brother, live.

Look to Jesus now and live.

’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!

It is only that you “look and live.”

The dying thief looked to Jesus on the Cross and was the first to enter Paradise for that "look".

There were no prizes for being good enough, just the simple recognition of Jesus and the power of the Cross.

It's exactly the same today.

That "serpent of sin" has bitten every one of us and we're dying - only that "look" to Jesus can save us.