Standing on the promises

Today we look at the last section of Joshua 3, Joshua 3:14-17.

The world around us changes its mind on what matters on a daily basis it seems. The things that everyone though were important yesterday are discarded for whatever is trending on social media today. Christians might find ourselves wondering where we fit into a culture that has ever changing values and ideals. We follow the teachings of a book that dates back 1000’s of years and maintains the same basic principles and priorities of people from before the time of the written word. Of course these principles and priorities are timeless because they are the revelation of an eternal God.
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We are called to stand on the truth of this book that contains His Word to us regardless of the ways that our world demands that we change our minds. How could we ever stand against the current of pressure we feel from an entire culture that says we are wrong and our thinking outdated? Faith. Trust that God who created us continues to guide us into all truth by His Word to us.
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These priests that stood in the middle of the Jordan river as an entire nation walked across had to continue to trust that God’s Word is true regardless of how many people walked past them. As they stood there in the middle of a dried up river looking at a wall of water just waiting to be unleashed to come sweep them away, I imagine they had to wonder how much longer they had to endure the danger they felt. Yet they continued to stand strong not just for themselves but for the whole nation showing their friends family and neighbors their own trust in God’ Word. They were staking their lives on the fact that God would keep His Word to them and they were willing to let everyone know exactly where they stood, quite literally.
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Finally as the last member of Israel crossed over they were able to leave their post and finish the journey themselves but not before. The call for believers today is very similar. While we stand for God’s truth that He has given us it may be scary and feel lonely at times but we must still stand strong as a testimony to the fact that God’s Word is as true today as it was all those many years ago. We are staking our lives on this fact, eternity hangs in the balance and we trust that ours is held firmly in HIs hands.
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We continue to place our relationship to God as our highest priority in life as a testimony to our faith in His salvation and power.

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As we feel the pressure of the ever changing currents of our culture today we can continue to press forward in faith as we look backwards at the many witnesses to God’s power and faithfulness and then press on knowing that He will carry us safely all the way home.
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV)