The worst tragedy is not an eleven day journey took forty years. The worst tragedy is to die in the desert never taste His promised abundance in this earthly life because of unbelief. #Hunger4More
I often see the journey of my life through the journey of the Israelites, enslaved over generations in Egypt, but through God’s gracious love, gave His promise to deliver them from slavery into freedom and abundance of the Promised Land. No doubt I see a parallel of my journey of salvation.
For a longest time, I thought the worst story was an eleven day journey turned into forty years. Lately, I was enlightened by the Spirit to see that delay was not the worst, because at least they arrived eventually. The worst tragedy of it all was those who died in the desert never lived to experience in their lifetime the promise of abundance God intended them to enjoy from the Promised Land.
The Lord out of His grace has delivered us from the bondage of sins. By accepting Jesus’ costly sacrifice, we are no longer slaves to our sinful desires. We are no longer trapped by the negative effect other’s sins have upon us. But somehow, a lot of us called by the name of Jesus would admit, we are not yet living in His Promised Land of a life filled with joy, peace, abundance and freedom. Some argued that we won’t until we die and live in eternity. But the Promised Land was to be enjoyed by the living, the abundant life Christ died for us to have is for our earthly life. In fact, that is supposed to be our testimonies of who He is. Going in circles in the desert is a result of our doubts of His promises and of the God that He is.
The spiritual reality of the New Testament Promised Land is colorful: in the last days, He will pour out His Spirit, so His people will see visions, dream dreams, prophesy. He will reveal wonders in the heavens above and signs on earth below. Those who believe will drive out demons, speak in new tongues, place hands on sick people and see them get well. By the Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead living within us, we are to live in power and revelations. [Acts 2, Mark 16, Romans 8].
My biggest nightmare is to die in the desert never taste any of these, never live in this lifestyle of the spiritually rich and famous!
We know we are still wondering in the desert lost, when our life experience is no different from those who don’t know Jesus. We know we are still in the desert, when all we can hang on to is a promise of eternal life after this life, but in the present life, live as an operational atheist, no Spirit power, no experience, no testimony about the glory and the greatness of God.
What kept the Israelites in the desert from reaching the Promised Land is also what keeps us today from living a life of abundance:
We have yet to behold God for who He really is.
We have yet to relate to Him in a personal, loving relationship He desires to have with us as His child and His heir.
If our mindset is self conscious instead of Christ conscious, our reaction to every storm and crisis is fear and worry without peace. When trials came, the Israelites complained, “are there no grave in Egypt that we had to die in the desert.” We, likewise, would rather resort to our own sinful ways or take matters into our own hand instead of claiming what He has already promised and crying out to Him for help.
If we behold the awesome fact that the One whom I called Father is the One who spoke His word into the being of this universe, and His Spirit lives within me, who loves me so much that He asked His Son to die for me, there has to be no ordinary anticipation of how I live my life to be worthy of who He is in my life.
Life is short. There is more to the abundant life Christ died for us to have. Let our desire to taste such milk and honey of the Promised Land in this life creates a desperation and a spiritual hunger in our hearts, that drive us to get to know Him more intimately. May that give us boldness to accept His invitations to step out into the unknown in faith so that His glory and power are free to manifest in our lives. May our life be a testimony to draw others to know Him more.
