1298. Some Fell in the Wilderness, and Some Fell Not
Some Fell in the Wilderness, and Some Fell Not
"For they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1Co_10:5).
Our final consideration is a sad one for the many; and yet, glorious on the part of a few.
There were many who came out of Egypt with Moses, but of all the multitude of fighting men, only two ever entered into the Canaan rest.
These fathers of old had all come out of Egypt under the blood, a true token; they had all passed under the cloud and through the sea; they were all baptized unto Moses; they had all eaten of the same spiritual meat and they had drunk of the same spiritual drink; but, with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness (see 1Co_10:1-10).
These fathers of old, wandered back and forth for forty years, without getting to Canaan; they were idolaters; they committed fornication; they tempted Christ; and they murmured.
In the Book of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit uses these fathers of old to give plain and definite warning to saints, who are today in danger of falling in the wilderness. The words have a meaning beyond the Christian Hebrews to whom they were particularly suggestive. The whole warning is summed up in one word: "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you seem to come short of it" (Heb_4:1).
We must not lust as they lusted, we must not tempt God as they tempted, nor murmur as they murmured.
Alas! Alas! the church is filled with Christian people who know nothing of the life of victory, nothing of the place of power. They seem to wander aimlessly around. The result will be that in the day of millennial rest, they will find themselves falling short of a full reward.
There were two who came out of Egypt who fell not in the wilderness, but entered into the Promised Land. The two were Caleb and Joshua. They followed the Lord fully.
We trust that there will be many in these days of apostasy who shall "be purified and made white."
We trust that there will be many who will go all the way with God in full consecration, and service.
These, and these alone, will receive from the Lord, the "Well done." These, and these alone, will have an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Where is he who desires to be saved by the "skin of his teeth"–"scarcely saved"?
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR