Our Land of Promise

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

When the children of Israel were delivered from their captivity to the Egyptians, the Lord, through Moses, prompted them to ask their Egyptian neighbors to give them “clothing and articles of silver and gold.” Think for a moment what this meant. The slaves, who had never owned anything of value their whole lives, now leave to begin their new life with nice clothes and money in their pockets. They may not have known where they were going, but they had more than they’d ever had in their lives as they traveled.

Yet, a short time after the Lord had delivered them from the Egyptians, not once, but twice, they began to belly ache and complain that they were better off in Egypt and wanted to go back. How like us at the first sign of anything we don’t like in our walk with the Lord. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that their complaining literally cost them their lives. They never got to enter the land the Lord had promised them.

Which causes me to ask the question: “What is your ‘Promised Land?’” What is it that you most want to become as a Jesus follower? What’s your dream? What would you love to do or be for Jesus? Perhaps you want to be a Pastor, Evangelist, Worship leader, Teacher, Church Planter. The list is long, and the possibilities are endless as to what we can be or do in the Kingdom of God.

What’s holding you back? What’s stopping you from becoming all you’ve dreamed of becoming for the Lord? The writer of the Hebrew letter says to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” I may not be able to identify the specific sin that’s got you entangled or is tripping you up, but I can tell you with authority and certainty, the Lord paid for its forgiveness and deliverance.

All you have to do is accept the freedom you’ve been given in Christ Jesus. Like the children of Israel, we’re so prone to want to continue to live like we did before we were set free. We’re liberated to become more than we ever dared dream possible, but our vision is so limited by our own shortcomings, we can’t imagine living any other way.

We learn to adapt to the acceptance of sin in our lives as though it’s okay, but it’s not. There are those who believe they’ve “come to terms with the Lord about their sin,” but that’s a lie from hell. If God the Father was okay with our sin He wouldn’t have allowed His only Son to lay down His life in our place to pay sin’s penalty.

Listen child of God, you’ve been set free, not to continue to wallow in your sin, but by God’s grace and with the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, to overcome sin in your life. It takes time to break sinful habits, but that must be our goal. To say we’ve risen with Jesus to new life, to become a new creation in Christ Jesus, only to continue to live like the devil is a slap in God’s face.

That’s why church and a small group are so vital to our health as a believer. None of us can walk with Jesus without help and support. When you get to heaven do you think you’ll live alone, without any participation in worship and service to your King Jesus? Being a believer in Jesus is a “team” effort. You may not realize it, but you’re surrounded every day by “a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith” you’re seeking to live.

The balconies of heaven are crowded by those who have completed their journey, who are cheering for your success as you race toward your “Land of promise.” You can make it child of God, but you need help, not only from the Lord, but from your brothers and sisters who need you as much as you need them.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊