“The Lord our God spoke unto us in Horeb, saying ‘You have dwelt long enough in this mount. Turn and take your journey. . .’”
Deuteronomy 1:6-7a
You cannot go with God and stay where you are.
“It’s time to get a move on.”
That’s the essence of today’s Manna, taken from Moses’ exhortation to the children of Israel as they stand once again at the edge of the Promised Land. After having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they once again had to decide if history would repeat itself or if they, by faith, would finally enter in.
Yet, the temptation to stay where they were was strong. Mt. Horeb or Mt. Sinai—also known as “The Mountain of God” (Ex. 18:5)—was the place where Moses encountered God at the burning bush (Ex. 3:1) and also place where the Law was given to Israel. For nearly one year those who’d been born in the wilderness had camped out on the mountain. But, now it was time to “turn and take their journey.”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, was there ever a time when we need to hear and heed this Message? Has there ever been a time when the Church was more “at ease in Zion”. . .camped out on Mt. Complacency. . .content to do “business as usual”. . .while a lost world dies and goes to hell?
Where are the fiery prophets like Amos who’ll declare without reservation “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!” (6:1a)? Where are they? Where are the passionate preachers like Paul who’ll cry “Awake to righteousness and sin not!” (I Cor. 15:34)? Where are they?
Like the church in Laodicea, so is the Church today. . .saying “I am rich, increased with goods and don’t need anything”. . .while the Lord is saying “No, that’s not true—for you don’t realize your true condition: That you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:17).
Beloved, we don’t see “the fire fall and God’s Glory fill” (II Chron. 7:1-3) because we’re in a rotten rut of rote ritual and routine! We have a “form of godliness, but deny the power thereof” (II Tim. 3:5). We’ve grown so accustomed to sin in our societies and in ourselves that we wink, smile and say “Now, now, this is a new age—an Age of Enlightenment. No need to get all uptight about such things that really don’t matter that much in the Grand Scheme of things.”
But, nothing could be farther from the Truth, Pilgrim. Nothing.
God is a holy God and He expects us to be holy (Lev. 20:7; I Pet. 1:15-16). Even though we are “saved by Grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-9), we are still expected—yea, commanded—to walk as Jesus walked. And, even though our spiritual strides will never measure up to His, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t at least be trying. God forbid!
Woe to any professing follower of Christ who is content with giving Him second-best or leftovers. If He didn’t accept them in Old Testament days, He’ll not accept them now. It’s time to leave the Mountain of Mediocrity and move on with God. The question is “Will you??”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated August 27, 2010
