"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." - John 3:14-15

"So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live." - Numbers 21:9

Let's consider the words of an old gospel song by William A. Ogden today, "I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah! This message unto you I’ll give, ’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah! It is only that you “look and live.” The quality of faith has always been the key to spiritual life with the Lord. It's all settled when we "look and live".

Jesus dealt with a religious leader who was raised with all the legal demands of Pharisaical teaching. His question in verse 9 says it all, "How can these things be?" Nicodemus was so tied to doing that he couldn't understand the simplicity of faith. Jesus took Him back to the moment in Numbers 21 when life was restored by gazing in faith at a bronze serpent. From the days of Moses to those of Jesus, to this day, it's always been the same; a new heart will only come to those who "look and live".

Have you ever turned your eyes to Calvary for forgiveness and new life my friend? And do you exercise that same faith every day by turning your eyes upon Jesus to find strength for the journey? Another old gospel song by Helen H. Lemmel calls to us as well, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace." From the first  moment we turn to Jesus for life to every daily challenge, the life of faith is all wrapped up in these three words, "look and live".