Congratulations, you have WON!

ACT NOW…. to claim

I’m sure at one time or the other, you would have got an offer for perhaps a cash ‘prize’ or an awesome deal for something spectacular.  I recall decades ago, we would receive such offers via post.  “Act now” and don’t miss out!  When those words leap out, the first thing that comes to mind is, (oh, well to be honest that’s the second thing!  The first is the jittery feeling, “can this be true?”) “What’s the catch?”  In fine print, more often than not, there would be conditions – zillions of them!  Life is full of conditions starting from promotions at work to scholarships for tertiary education to winning prizes and awards… the list goes on…

Likewise, God’s Word is full of promises but they also tend to stipulate conditions alongside them.  Yet unlike these ‘exciting’ prizes, God’s conditions are for our benefit and for our protection.  All along He helps us, guides us and carries us through.  Many times or perhaps even most of the time, we don’t adhere to the conditions that He stipulates.  Yet He loves us and forgives us.

God was rescuing the Israelites from Egypt.  He took them to the Promised Land through the desert road so that they won’t face any wars and have a change of heart.

He had desired to give them the BEST after taking them through the test.

Throughout the journey, God showed His glory and performed many wonders and miracles to sustain them.  “They believed His promises and sang His praise.  But they soon forgot what He had done… They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt” (Psalm 106:12,13,21).   When they heard the negative report regarding Canaan, the people responded “Our brothers have made us lose heart” (Deuteronomy 1:28).

The Israelites were the chosen people.  It was this very “chosen” people who murmured and who grumbled along the way.  The journey from Egypt to Canaan took about 450 years (Acts 13:18).  During this period, despite the miracles, the wonders and God carrying them through, the Israelites tested Him 10 times (Numbers 14:22).

A census was taken in the second year.  There were 603,550 men above the age of twenty (Numbers 1:45-46).  The LORD said, “I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites… In this desert your bodies will fall – every one of you twenty years old or more… Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home except Caleb… and Joshua” (Numbers 14:26-30).  Out of 603,550 men, ONLY TWO were allowed to enter the land that was promised.  Caleb was allowed as he followed the LORD wholeheartedly (Numbers 14:24, Deuteronomy 1:36).

Our time on earth can be likened to the wilderness while Heaven can be likened to the Promised Land.  There will be obstacles and trials on earth, but God carries us through.  We can choose to rejoice in what He does or we can choose to murmur and grumble.  It’s important to remember that believers, like the Israelites are the chosen ones.  However, our repetitive testing of God (our lack of faith) can result in us not being able to enter Heaven. We need to be aware that we can lose our salvation.  However, the salvation of children is assured.  The children of the Israelites, “who do not yet know good from bad” were allowed to enter the land“(Deuteronomy 1:39).

According to the book of John, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (1:12).  It is important to note the choice of words, “He gave the RIGHT to become” rather than “become”.  Romans 8:14 seems to be like a ‘continuation’ of this, “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”.  Here the wording is “ARE” sons of God.  We have the right to become His children when we believe in Him, but we assume that right only when we are led by His Spirit.  Then of course, salvation is assured.

Where do YOU stand today? 

• Have you witnessed God’s miracles and wonders?  What have you done about it?  Have you not yet made a decision to follow Him wholeheartedly? 

 ACT NOW… Claim God’s invitation to the Promised Land before it’s too late!

•  How are you following God today?  Wholeheartedly or losing heart?
• If you are losing heart, is it because of discouraging ‘brothers’?  Are you disobeying God because of this?  Will you have to lose out on the Promised Land?  Are you taking His grace for granted? 

Act NOW or time may run out…

Don’t take a chance and miss out on eternal life in the Promised Land!