Time To Move Out!

What day of the year is a command? That day is today. Doesn’t today’s date, March fourth, sound like the command to MARCH FORTH? Such is the command to not remain where one is presently, but to move on; to press forward.

In the first chapter of Deuteronomy we read…
“(6) The Lord our God said to us in Horeb, ‘YOU HAVE STAYED LONG ENOUGH AT THIS MOUNTAIN. (7) TURN AND TAKE YOUR JOURNEY, AND GO to the hill country of the Amorites and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negeb and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.’” ( Deuteronomy 1:6-7 ESV)

And the journey from the mountain where the Law was given began. The people did MARCH FORTH toward the promised land. However, as Moses recounted further into this chapter, due to lack of trust in God and obedience to His Will the people refused to enter. And the 40 year wandering in the wilderness began; one year for each day the twelve spies had spent looking over the land God had promised to give. ( Numbers 14:34)

Later, Moses noted at another point in their wandering in the region of Mount Seir…
“(2) Then the Lord said to me, (3)‘YOU HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THIS MOUNTAIN COUNTRY LONG ENOUGH. TURN NORTHWARD (4) and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful.’” ( Deuteronomy 2:2-4 ESV)

For Israel, their time at the mountain when the Law was given was important. However, they were not to remain there. We must recognize the importance of time in deep meditation and prayer while at the same time realizing that is not where we are to remain. There is the need to arise in action to the glory of God. Life is a journey with many opportunities along the way for both personal growth and to draw others onto the Way that leads to the eternal promised land above.

On life’s journey we always face the danger of settling down where we are. It is far too easy to get comfortable in our habits and ways and complacent in our spirituality, ceasing to progress in the Way and Will of God. Perhaps at times we sense our life circling instead of MARCHING ON. We may be in danger if we cease to feel the onward and upward draw of God.

Remember Paul’s earnest aim.
“(12) NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THIS OR AM ALREADY PERFECT, BUT I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
(13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I
do: forgetting what lies behind and STRAINING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD,
(14) I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

As mature in the faith and spiritually gifted as Paul was, he was not content with his spiritual stature. He still saw the room for growth and PRESSED ON to become all that the Lord had in mind for him and to ultimately receive his eternal rest. As we accept each new day God provides, may we also continue to MARCH FORTH in trusting obedience to His guidance. The promise still stands to enter that rest. ( Hebrews 4:1, 8-11) Let us trust God to safely bring us into the heavenly land.

Have a great day FAITHFULLY JOURNEYING WITH GOD!
Carl

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