As Moses led the people of Israel up to the Promised Land, before they entered it without him, he gave them his final message that God told him to share with His Chosen Nation. The prophet recounts their history, how God brought them out of their slavery in Egypt, gave them His Law, punished them for their disobedience for 40 years, but now has brought them to the time they would take possession of that land flowing with milk and honey. There were a few final instructions, blessings that would follow if they obeyed God and curses that would come if they did not. This is the book of Deuteronomy, from which the passage I share with you today is taken.

Deuteronomy 4:32–40 ³² Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? ³³ Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? ³⁴ Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? ³⁵ You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. ³⁶ From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. ³⁷ Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, ³⁸ to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today. ³⁹ Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. ⁴⁰ Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.

Moses was telling the people of God, the Jewish nation, not to forget what God had done. Talk about it with each other. Share the message with future generations. No one else has this Good News of deliverance, a God who steps in to deliver His people by His might and power. You have heard about it and seen His goodness in your lives. Don’t forget who God is and what He has done for you. Show your gratitude for all He has done by being His obedient children, and God will bless you.

That was the message God had for His people in the Old Testament. It should sound very familiar to the people of the New Testament as well.

Do not forget what God has done. Share it with one another, with your children and grandchildren, your friends and neighbors. No other religion or faith has the Good News of deliverance from sin and death and the devil that God has accomplished by sending His one and only Son into the world to become one of us, live with us, die for the sins of all people, and rise victorious to give us the certainty of eternal life with Him. He did that by His might and power. He did it all, and we receive it as a gift. You have heard about it and you have seen God’s goodness and blessing in your lives. Don’t forget who God is and what He has done for you through Jesus Christ. Show your gratitude to God for the salvation He accomplished and gives to you by striving to live according to His commandments, knowing you already have forgiveness and life. God will continue to shower down His blessings on you now and for eternity. And you will eventually join Him in the place He has prepared for you.