Hebrews 7:25(NKJV) 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
In our study of Israel’s journey from Egyptian bondage to their destiny in Canaan, we have found that God commanded Israel to possess the Promised Land. This involved first driving out the Canaanites, then moving in, and occupying the land themselves. Both of these are aggressive ideas. God will not do these things for the Israelites. He will provide power and he will go before them to help them, but they are going to have to fight aggressively for what God has given them.
As we come to the close of 2011, I believe that the Lord is telling us the same thing. We have many promises from the Lord. In his second letter to the church, Peter calls them “exceeding great and precious promises.” However, we must understand that, although they belong to us because of what Jesus did, we must fight to possess them.
There are many things to be said about this, but let me begin the week with a simple thought. God did not save us to leave us short of the goal. He wants us to walk in “abundant life.” He wants us to fulfill everything for which God created us. He did not deliver Israel from Egypt for anything less than the full possession of the Promised Land. He wants to save us to the “uttermost” of our potential.
Israel had many wonderful experiences on their journey. However, God did not save them for those wonderful experiences. They were all necessary and had a part to play in Israel’s preparation for possessing the land of Canaan, but they were not why he saved them. He saved them to possess the land of Canaan so that the Messiah could be born to them in that place. Everything else was to lead to that.
Likewise, God did not save you for the experiences you have as a Christian. He saved you to play a role in the history of your day. That role may not be recognized by anyone but God; however, he has a role for you.
Let us look at some of the experiences Israel had along the way. We have talked extensively about the encounter at the Red Sea. God supernaturally destroyed the Egyptian army and brought them through the waters of the Red Sea as though they were walking on dry ground. What a magnificent experience. I want to see the video in Heaven! However, God did not deliver them to cross the Red Sea.
They crossed the wilderness with a chain of miraculous events. They had a pillar of cloud and fire to protect them and to guide them. They had water from a rock that followed them wherever they went. They had manna, bread that appeared on the ground every morning, until they reached Canaan. They had quail come to them so they could have meat when they tired of manna. These were powerful experiences, but God did not deliver them for the wilderness.
At Mount Sinai, they had a direct encounter with Yahweh. They heard his voice and saw his presence in the form of thunder and lightning over the mountain. Moses went up to meet with the Lord in person. They received the Ten Commandments written by God himself. They learned the laws that would become a major part of their national identity. It could be said that it was at Sinai that Israel became a nation. However, God did not deliver them for Mount Sinai.
On their journey, they had many other supernatural experiences. Their shoes and clothes did not wear out for 40 years. God continued to guide them and speak with them through Moses. They won battles against some enemies and were protected from others with no fight at all.
Some of the experiences they had were not good. Many died because of rebellion. A whole generation had to watch their parents die without ever seeing the Promised Land. All of these experiences, both good and bad, were necessary for Israel’s preparation to possess the land of Canaan. However, if they had settled for any one of these experiences they would not have reached God’s goal for their deliverance. They needed to go all the way to Canaan. Nothing less would do.
I have been a Christian for over 43 years. I have had many wonderful experiences with God and hope to have many more. Some of the experiences that have taught me the most have been the most difficult. However, God did not save me for these experiences. God saved me for a purpose. If I choose to stop at any point on my journey, I will not fulfill his purpose for my life.
I believe that too many of us settle for some good experiences. Others quit because of some bad experiences. As Pentecostal or charismatic Christians we know that we can feel the presence of God. We know that joy and peace can be tangible experiences. We know that we can feel the touch of physical healing in our bodies and we know that God will do miraculous things to meet our needs. However, we must not settle for any of those things. We must continue on our journey until we fulfill all of what God has for us.
Look at Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 3:12-14(NKJV) 12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We can see that Paul, with all his experiences did not believe he could just sit back and enjoy them. He would not quit if he had some bad experiences. He would press on to the high calling. Too often, we settle for a calling, but God wants us to go all the way to the high calling. What is this high calling? It is to fulfill completely what we have been created to do.
Probably the last letter Paul wrote was his second epistle to his son in the faith, Timothy. He has lived a long time. He has come a great distance from Philippians 3 where he pledged to press on to the high calling. Let us see how he has done.
2 Timothy 4:6-8(NKJV) 6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Paul knows he will die soon. However, he is not afraid. He is able to say without hesitation that he has done what he said he would do in Philippians 3. He did not stop short of the goal. He did not settle for a life less significant than God intended for him. To many around him it might seem that Paul was a failure, however, those of us who read his letters today know otherwise. Thank God, Paul finished his journey.
Do not settle for a Christian life that is less than it can be. Do not allow the experiences of life, whether good or bad, cause you to stop at whatever level you currently occupy. There is more. There is more to know. There is more to do. There is more to experience in the Lord. Most important there is a purpose for which you were created.
I want to be able to say with Paul, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” I challenge you to obtain the same testimony.
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