Perfection or nothing.

Numbers 27:12-19 NLT

One day the Lord said to Moses, “Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel. After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron, for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) Then Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” The Lord replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people.
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Moses is trusted by God. If Numbers chapter 12 is to be trusted, Moses " was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth."  (Num 12)

So you might think Moses was safe from judgment. You might think Moses had the inside track. Seeing that Moses knew people in high places so to speak you'd think he'd get a pass.

Of course Moses would get to enter the promised land.

I used to say that the most important thing about a person is what they think about God. And in God's description of Moses that seems to be worthy of a mention, "he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is."

But that didn't get him in.

Moses was humble. Moses knew the Bible. (He did write pretty much all of it up to this point.)
Moses trusted God, Moses was very obedient, Moses prayed a lot, Moses experienced an unprecedented outpouring of God's blessing and gifting. Moses loved his enemies. Moses loved God and his neighbour.

But in the end this doesn't secure his entrance into the promised land.

You and I are not going to get one up on Moses. You and I are not going to queue jump Moses based on our performance record.

Moses' life and death cry out for grace and a Saviour. Moses wasn't enough on his own.

God and Moses' relationship, as good as it was, was not enough.

We need Jesus. We need a perfect Saviour.

You are not good enough. You can't count on your relationship with God. You can't count on you bible reading or writing for that matter. You can't count on your humility but it is a nice touch and by all means keep it up. You can't count on a love for your enemies. You will not get into God's kingdom based on you! I will not get into God's promised land based on my merit.

Be careful what you put your trust in!

Flowers on Graham road wall, S11 Sheffield UK

It is only by the mediation of Jesus, it is only by his perfect life and sinless death you will cross over into God's reward. You can not earn it yourself. Riches and blessing will not secure your place. Your obedience will not earn it.

It is only by Grace!
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Numbers 12:2-4, 7-9 NLT

They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.) So immediately the Lord called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” So the three of them went to the Tabernacle. But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?” The Lord was very angry with them, and he departed.