17 - CHAPTER 15: DAYS OF HEAVEN ON EARTH
FROM THE GLOOM AND DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE TO THE GLORY AND ABUNDANCE OF THE PROMISED LAND There is only one thing now to be considered, and that is the sort of life God expects His children to live. FOR OUR ADMONITION
Before we look at that ideal-a POSSIBLE ideal-we must just give a glance at the wonderful object-lesson given us in the redemption of God’s people, Israel. Paul tells us that the experiences of the children of Israel, in their deliverance from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land, and are "examples," or types, and that they are written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). They are full of instruction. God means us to study the failures and failings of His chosen people, and to take warning lest we also suffer for having an evil heart of unbelief.
Egypt is a type of the world, Sin. Canaan, the land of promise, is a type of Sanctification-the Victorious Life here below. No Egyptian taskmaster was ever more merciless and cruel than sin is. The Israelites could not save themselves. The more they struggled to get free, the harder their burdens became. So likewise the sinner cannot save himself. His struggles and efforts avail nothing. Salvation is all of grace.
Then came God’s deliverance through the shedding of blood. That Passover Lamb was a type of Christ. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). The lamb was slain and the blood shed. That was substitution. "That lamb dies instead of me," a Jew might have truly said.
Yet that blood SHED saved no one. To effect salvation, it must be sprinkled upon the door-posts and upon the lintel. That is to say, there must be an individual claiming and acceptance of that substitutionary sacrifice. Only the blood SPRINKLED saved anyone. "Christ died for the ungodly." But if I am not to die for my sins, I must accept Christ’s death in my stead. "As many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). THE RED SEA. -Then came that miraculous passage through the Red Sea, which Paul likens unto baptism. "Our fathers were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10:2), although neither the waters of the sea nor the cloud touched them, and not until the passage of the Jordan did they become fully sanctified.
What did the Red Sea accomplish for the Israelites? Before they crossed it they were redeemed by the shed blood appropriated, but were still living and moving amongst their foes.
TWO ASPECTS OF CHRIST’S DEATH
They were subjected to a merciless pursuit and a determined attempt to drag them back into bondage. When once they had passed through the sea, however, they were delivered from all dominion, all control of their foes. They never again had trouble from them or conflict with them. Their oppressors lay DEAD on the seashore.
What does this mean for us? Remember that there are two aspects of Christ’s death. He died for our sins. He died for us-substitution. But then Paul tells us that we are also to die with Him. "I have been crucified WITH CHRIST" (Galatians 2:20); "Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin" (Romans 6:11). The Israelites in bondage were delivered by the blood shed and sprinkled. But they are pursued by certain of their foes. These foes are slain at the Red Sea, but they themselves escape and are free. Egypt stands for the world of sin. Christ found us in "Egypt," and by His death in our stead delivered us from the penalty of sin. But even after our conversion some of these sins followed us and harassed us-temper, pride, jealousy, lust, worry, avarice-causing discomfiture and misery, and occasionally temporary defeat. Where is there any escape, any real victory? Only through the Red Sea-baptism, or what baptism implies; i.e., a death to sin and a rising again to righteousness. That is a crucifixion with Christ, so as to be able to "reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin." WHERE MANY CHRISTIANS FAIL. The Egyptians were seen DEAD upon the seashore. An Israelite might have gone back and have recognised his old taskmaster lying there. "There he is DEAD: he will never trouble me any more." Another might have said, "Yes, and there is my taskmaster; no more will he oppress me!"
Now it is just as true that when we enter into death with Christ we are dead to sin. We can, indeed, reckon ourselves "dead indeed unto sin" (Romans 6:11) -- to temper, pride, jealousy, avarice, lust. Hitherto such sins have been our taskmasters. But notice that Paul does not say, "Sin is dead unto you." Those pursuing Egyptians were slain, but Egypt-sin -- as a nation was still in evidence. "My personal sins I may count as ’slain’ but SIN back of them all is very much alive," says one. The reason why many Christians are constantly falling into sin is because they try to obey only one-half of Paul’s injunctions. "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin," says St. Paul. Many attempt to act up to that. But he also says, "but yield yourselves unto God, as those alive from the dead" (Romans 6:13). That was what Christ’s death meant to our Lord Himself. He submitted His will absolutely unto God. "Lo, I come to do Thy will" (Hebrews 10:9), "I do always those things that please Him," said our Lord (John 8:29).
When, and so long as there is the unconditional surrender of my life to God, then "sin has NO dominion over me" (Romans 6:14).
DELIVERANCE FROM SIN The Pass-over means deliverance from the PENALTY of SIN. The Pass-through (the Red Sea) means deliverance from the POWER of sin. But even in the wilderness those children of God needed to learn that in God and in Him alone they had ALWAYS ALL sufficiency in ALL things (2 Corinthians 9:8).
BITTER WATERS
After the children of Israel were delivered from both the bondage and power of the Egyptians, they arrive- thirsty and weary-at Marah, the bitter waters. These are at once made sweet by the WOOD thrown in. So it is still: the WOOD-the Cross-that is, the CHRIST of the cross-takes the bitterness out of everything that would be otherwise galling. But these pilgrims go on from strength to strength. From the bitter waters of Marah-that need to be sweetened-they pass on to the sweet and plenteous waters of Elim, and then on to that miraculous water which flowed out of the Rock-and "that rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4); and that water a type of the Blessed Spirit.
MANNA And food was provided as well as drink. Manna-bread from heaven. Again we are taken to the cross. For Christ is our Bread from heaven-His Body broken on the cross is indeed the "bread of God... which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world" (John 6:33). So those pilgrims were led and fed entirely by God. The water-a type of the Holy Spirit-did not GIVE life; it only sustained it. The Manna-a type of the "Bread of life"-did not GIVE life, it only maintained it. The Holy Spirit, however, is "the Lord and GIVER of life." Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life-Who GIVES life, as well as sustains it.
Yet with all their manifold privileges and blessings, the children of Israel "provoked God in the wilderness." Think of it! They were miraculously delivered; miraculously led; miraculously fed; miraculously preserved from sickness-for "there was not one feeble person amongst their tribes" (Psalms 105:37). Yet there were murmurings and disobedience. Their lives were not full of joy and victory. AT THE CRISIS OF LIFE. But THAT was God’s ideal for them, an ideal only possible In the Promised Land. THE CRISIS OF LIFE. So they came to Kadesh-Barnea- and there lay the land of promise before them; typical of the Victorious Life which we have outlined before the eyes of our readers. As we read the story we expect to learn they rushed forward with joy in their hearts and songs on their lips- vying with each other as to who should be the first to enter in. Moses called the people together. "Ye are come to the mountain which the Lord our God doth GIVE unto us. Behold the Lord thy God hath set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto you; fear not, neither be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 1:20-21). Then the amazing thing happened: the people refused to go! "Let us first send men before us and they shall search out the land!" said they. And Moses assented. Those people COULD NOT TRUST GOD. We all know the result. The spies return with a wonderful story and wonderful fruit. Two of their number-the two surely who carried that bunch of grapes? - Said, "Let us go up AT ONCE and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." But the other ten cried, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we! (Numbers 13:31). Again the faithful two spoke up. "If the Lord delight in us then HE will bring us into the land and GIVE IT TO us. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them; and the Lord is with us: fear them not." THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS. But the people sided with the ten and refused to obey the living God: refused to enter the land to which GOD had led them, and which GOD had promised to GIVE them. And God never gave them another chance. Not one of those people over twenty years of age, except Joshua and Caleb, ever saw the land again.
Now what does it all mean? For them it was a time of crisis. Behind them was Egypt that gave them garlic, and leeks, and onions-and bondage. Before them was the Promised Land with milk and honey and luscious fruits-and FREEDOM. Which shall they choose? Thank God, they did not go back to Egypt (sin)! But, alas! They refused to enter the land of promise, where there was rest and communion with God. So they wandered for forty years in the wilderness, amid snares and noisome pestilence’s, and the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
What is there of "example" in all this? The Promised Land is the Victorious Life. We have tried in these articles to lead our readers right up to its borders, and we have "looked in." Have we entered in? This is God’s will for everyone who trusts Him as Saviour. He wishes us to enter now, and to abide there forever. The difficulties of such a life, free from known sin, seem gigantic and insuperable. They are like the people occupying Canaan, "Nations greater and mightier than thyself" (Deuteronomy 9:1).
We believe that God’s command to us is, "Go up and possess it: fear not, neither be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 1:21). Many believers declare the Victorious Life to be impossible: to be beyond them. "We are unable to enter in," they cry. Now God calls us to live this life in His STRENGTH, and not in our own. "If the Lord delight in us then will He bring us into the land." It means an absolute surrender of all we have and are, and a simple faith in Christ’s ability to do all He has promised. Our Lord bids us go in and possess it. For, remember that "God’s omnipotence is at our disposal for KEEPING as well as for service."
WHAT THE EXPERIENCE MEANT The life of most Christians is simply a wilderness experience, which is far removed from the rest and joy of the Promised Land. The wilderness experience means:
1. RESTLESSNESS. No settled home-no abiding-place no possessions. At any moment they had to move on, should the cloud lift from off the tabernacle. It means discontent and murmuring against God and His providential dealings with us; murmurings against the leaders whom God has chosen; murmurings against our lot which WE have chosen (for the wilderness wanderings are really rebellion against God, and contrary to His wishes). It means, sometimes, a longing to be back in Egypt-a life of sin; and sometimes a going back.
2. IT MEANS FRUITLESSNESS. The children of Israel fought in the wilderness, but they gained nothing by their fighting except the right to go on their way unhindered. They gained no possessions. That is the ordinary life of every Christian who has not claimed the Victorious Life. It is a life made up of "not doing things." He does not dance, or play cards, or attend theatres; he, perhaps, does not even drink or smoke. But his Christian life consists of not doing wrongful or harmful things. The FRUIT of the Promised Land-the fruit of the Spirit -- is not there: love, joy, peace. There is no growth in grace, and little-if any-"fruit" in service. What SEEMING results there are do not last. In the main, it is only of the one living the Victorious Life in whom Christ’s desire is fulfilled-that His "fruit should abide" (John 15:16). Many Christians have renounced the pleasures of sin- but not sin itself. They have not entered the Promised Land where true joy is found. This alone is lamentable. But the saddest part of their failure is this:
THEY KEEP OTHERS OUT
Joshua and Caleb had a right to enter in. So had Moses. Yet the two were shut out for forty years because of the unwillingness of others to enter in! And Moses soon forfeited the right to enter in at all! Oh, that Joshua and Caleb had refused to go with the majority! Had they but boldly marched in-they two only-we believe that God would have honoured their faith, and have conquered their foes before them. Yes, and thousands would have followed in their steps. GOD CAN DO SUCH THINGS.
Jonathan and his armour-bearer knew that (1 Samuel 14:6). Moreover God offered to do it for Moses alone. "Let me alone, that I may destroy them; and I will make of THEE a nation mightier and greater than they" (Deuteronomy 9:14).
FOUR THINGS TO REMEMBER
We have put before YOU the land of promise-the Victorious Life which God can give you. Christian-are you willing to enter in? Remember four things:
1. God has promised some better thing for us than a wilderness life of failure and discontent and doubt. He offers victory over known sin, and the enjoyment of wonderful communion with Him.
2. Our struggling and striving cannot give us that which God only can give.
3. We may and should bring our sins the sins of Christian people-our doubts, our fears, our anxieties, our defeats, our weaknesses to Him, and trust the Lord Jesus to kill them; and then claim by faith Victory through Christ.
4. Then we can confidently say, "I now by faith take the life of Victory, with all its rest and joy and fruitfulness. "If ye be WILLING and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land."
Take another good look at that "land"-that LIFE-if you still hold back.
1. IT IS A LIFE OF PERFECT REST. "COME unto Me... I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and LEARN OF ME --be My disciple-and ye shall find REST to your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). All unrest dishonours Christ.
2. IT IS A LIFE OF PERFECT PEACE. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you" (John 14:27). To experience anything but peace-even under opposition, oppression, loss, bereavement, or perplexity-is to dishonour Christ and His Word.
VICTORY FOLLOWS OBEDIENCE
3. IT IS A LIFE OF POWER. "Ye shall receive power" (Acts 1:8). If we do not POSSESS power, we are dishonouring Christ. We are not waiting for God; GOD IS WAITING FOR US.
4. IT IS A FRUITFUL LIFE. "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" (Php 4:13). A life of failure is dishonouring to Christ.
5. IT IS A LIFE LIVED BY THE CHRIST DWELLING IN US, and therefore a life of perfect JOY. In the wilderness, God led His people-disobedient, rebellious, murmuring people-by a pillar of cloud and fire. No sooner had they entered the land of promise than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared to Joshua, not as one fighting for him, but as the Victorious Leader winning Victory so long as the people obeyed Him.
"Are you for us or for our adversaries?" asks Joshua. "Neither, but as captain of the host of the Lord am I NOW come" (Joshua 5:13-14). He was unable to come before. He could not come in this manner so long as the people wandered in the wilderness. So with us. Christ will guide us- as with a cloud-even when our lives are but a wilderness experience. But when we are fully surrendered to Him, He fills our hearts with His presence and takes complete control, and wins all our Victories for us-He, the captain of the host of the Lord. Such a life is a Victorious Life- a life of constant miracle. May every reader of these lines enter in and they to will get a vision of Christ Jesus, the Captain of the host of the Lord. And the JOY OF THE LORD which He Himself brings shall be their strength.
O Spirit of God and Jesus, Blessed Trinity, come and possess My body, my soul, and my spirit, And fill me with Thy holiness.
Come in, come in, Holy Spirit, Thy work of great blessings begin. By faith I lay hold of Thy promise, And claim complete victory o’er sin.