(Exodus 33 v 18)
Moses was a man who was hand picked by God to deliver the nation of Israel from Egypt.
Along the way he had to do some things which any other man would have shrunk back from.
Climb up a mountain surrounded by fire and smoke, receiving the commandments, dealing with a nation so faithless, that they made a god for themselves out of their inheritance.
And yet, the basis of faith for this man of God was not in the behaviour of those in his charge
Nor even in the successes at the red sea(ch 14) and provision of food(ch 16)
His faith was rooted in the knowledge that without the presence of God - without God's glory - there was nothing meaningful at all.
He was addicted to something - or someone - beyond the miraculous
He knew the difference betweeen those who sought the God of Israel for what they could leverage, and those who sought the God of Israel for other reasons.
Moses was one of the latter.
"...the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend "(vs 11 NASB).
Keeping the faith has less to do with wrong doctrine or heresy - that is about losing the faith
Keeping the faith has to do with being addicted to the One who, with one encounter of his presence and his glory, can make our hearts "burn within us"(Luke 24 v 32).
Moses knew that nothing else mattered, even entering into the inheritance long promised to Abraham.
Even the agenda given by God himself was disposable if it meant not having God himself.
How far have we come from this?
The glorious presence of God should be our all consuming passion.
God, make me hungry for you.
Everything else can wait.