Vacation season is drawing to a close. It looked a lot different this year. A lot of research had to be done before leaving the house. Packing was a bit more critical because finding a place to purchase food or supplies was not as simple. Being ready for any potentiality was essential before the vacation could begin.
School is starting this month, in a variety of ways, all across the COVID-ridden country. Much prep work has been done in order to make it safe for the teachers and the children. Churches are opening classrooms as well and being ready means thinking outside the box and being prepared to do things differently.
We celebrated with 9 high school graduates this summer. All have prepared themselves for the next chapter in their lives. New beginnings surround us and now, more than I can ever recall in my lifetime, preparation for the journey ahead is vital.
Sunday, Pastor Chris shared with us the story of Joshua's courageous faith, taking the Israelites across the Jordan River into the promised land. For forty years prior to this, they had roamed in the wilderness... so close to receiving the promise of God to inhabit a land where they could freely worship the One True God. But for forty years, they were not ready to enter. Now, God determined, it was time to enter, but the water was impassible. It was rainy season and the water was high and rough. How were they to cross over? Build a bridge? Rafts? An Ark? No. His instructions we much less complex, but perhaps, much more difficult.
Joshua said to the people,
"Set yourselves apart to the LORD.
Tomorrow He will do amazing things among you."
Joshua 3:5
Joshua knew that prep work was essential before they could receive the blessing God wanted to give them. They first had to dedicate themselves to God. Set themselves apart from the ways of the world. Consecrate themselves. Sanctify themselves. The condition of their hearts, not the condition of the river, was the determining factor for their success in crossing the Jordan River safely. They had to be ready. They dared not adopt the demanding, faithless, angry, ungodly stance of their parents. That had only brought them to ruin and they would not be entering the Promise land with them. The choice must be made. The ball was in their court. Would the make the decision to believe God and follow, or would they rebel as they had witnessed in the older generations?
As I ponder the crossing into the land of promise, I can't help but think about how we wander in the wilderness, following the patterns of our ancestors, tripping over the same things as our parents or grandparents. At what point do we cast aside the wrong path that we have witnessed and decide to prepare ourselves for the amazing things God has planned? Holding on to the traditions, the misery, the self-righteous attitudes, the lies we have believed is NOT helping us be ready for the amazing things God will do among us. Connecting to God by repentance and an attitude of submission will ready us to cross over into a new life.
Is it time to break the patterns of the past, dedicate yourself to following God and start a new life in your home, with your family? I surely do hope so because.... tomorrow God will do amazing things among you. Will you be ready... or not?
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