In his final address that is recorded in scripture, Joshua presented God’s account of the journey that His people had made to that point.
It’s fascinating hearing God go through a history lesson of His ongoing faithfulness and a track record that saw His people reach the position where the land promised to their ancestors was now a place where they could settle. There is enough in the address, however, that makes it clear that if the epople of Israel think that it’s going to be plain sailing from there, it will not be as cosy as they think. It’s one thing to settle n the land, it’s another thing to do what is necessary to retain the settled status in the land.
So it is that often in the journey following Jesus it’s good getting God’s perspective on the past that got you to the position you’ve reached. Hearing God recount again how you were in a world of darkness and mired in sin that was only leading to distress, delusion, despair and death. Hearing God remind you that your best efforts were doing a desperate job just to paper over the gaping cracks of your messed up life. Not dwelling on that situation, God would go on to remind you how He extended His love to you in Jesus Christ and despite your rebellious tendencies, He rescued you, cleaned you and sorted you with brand new clothing that reflected the new life you had in Him.
Taking on this account and seeing how great God has been and His faithful support as you endured and got through challenging situation after threatening obstacle is moving. Going through those times where his provision came for you when you needed it most and how his blessing graciously enriches you in ways you had not imagined stirs the heart to praise and adoration.
With the focus rightly on how God has done all this in Christ Jesus by His Spirit, it’s for us to now consider how we will make progress in the journey. We are to consider this because for all the good that He has done and all the greateness that He has expressed, we can still look at all that and choose to do things a little differently going forward. We can look around at the alternatives in the culture that appears to be more appeasing and popular and we can elect to go down their route. We can look at what’s come before us in terms of what cultural heritage informs and isntructs and choose to go down that route instead. We still have a choise.
The thing about the way that God has been so good and kind and taken us this far in the journey, is that if we turn our back on Him and choose to do our own thing, we risk going on a perilous detour that will result in us reaching a destination we will not like at all. The faithful God that got us this far in the journey is the only guarantee we have of making the destination. He is the only guarantee because He is the destination. He is the One in whom we’re ever going to fully realise and experience the fullness of life. He is the One in whom we are going to experience a life free from sin, suffering and sorrow.
This is why it’s beneficial that we take the time to hear His account of where He has taken us and where He intends to take us, if we maintain faith in Him alone.
(Photo by Matt Howard on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 