February 11, 2004

Reading: Gen 13

 

“Take a walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am giving you” (17) New Living Translation

 

The time had come for Abraham and Lot to part company and settle in different parts of the land—their herdsmen were arguing too much for comfort. Abraham gave Lot the choice and he chose to move his people to an area that contained the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s hand was in this choice as it left Abraham to dwell in the land promised to him. After Lot had gone, God told Abraham, “Take a walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am giving you.” The Lord had promised Canaan to Abraham and now invited him to explore this “new possession’ He was giving him.

We are told in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” This is our land of Canaan. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The question is, are we enjoying these blessings? We possess them—there is nothing more for God to give us. It is a done deal.

Later on, God told Moses He would give them their possession “little by little”—Exod 23:30; Deut 7:22. So it is in our walk with Christ, He gives it to us little by little, or one step at a time. The glorious thing about this analogy is that there is always something new for us to learn and make a part of our experience. The more mature a person becomes in Christ, the more he will acknowledge he has so much more to learn. Knowledge is more than accumulating the facts and figures of our faith, but to learn what God has for us by experiencing them. Joshua knew the physical and spiritual blessings the land of Canaan offered, after all, he and Caleb had returned from their spy trip with “grapes, pomegranates and figs”, and the news that it “truly flows with milk and honey” Num 13:23, 27. We can study the Word of God and learn about all the blessings walking with Christ offers, but until we uncompromisingly commit ourselves to Him, we will never know what the ‘fruit’ tastes like.

Let us not simply listen to others as they testify to the goodness and love of God and to that peace that passes all understanding. Others may tell about the joy of the Lord being their strength, and some of us are left to wonder what they are speaking about. A friend of mine is expected to die with cancer within the month, yet she speaks of the comfort her Savior brings her daily. Her husband praises God for His faithfulness and writes, “God is still God, and His faithfulness endures for ever.” How do we respond when we hear such testimonies? Are we among those who say, “That’s nice, I wish I could identify with what they are saying,” or does our heart know exactly what they are speaking about because it is also our experience? Do you find yourself on the outside, looking in?

Each one of us has to make the decision to trust the Lord completely, to “walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am (He is) giving you.” We will never know how the wine tastes unless we lift the glass to our lips and drink. Don’t take the word of your friends, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” The promise of the Lord is, “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Ps 34:8. Don’t just stand there and watch others enjoying the blessings of Jesus Christ—walk, taste, and know that the Lord is good. Don’t be an onlooker, become a participator. The rewards are great. The life is abundant.