#DailyDevotion You’re Not Ready Yet
Lent day 40 Saturday
Read Ex 13:17—14:9
Exo 13:17-18 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” (18) But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
Sometimes I am asked how come since Jesus atoned for the sins of the world on Good Friday and all who believe in him have eternal life, why does he wait so long to redeem us and bring us into Paradise. Beside the fact that he is waiting for the full number of the elect to be born and be born of the Spirit, and beside the fact he is being patient not wanting anyone to perish but that all would repent and receive eternal life, today’s lesson gives us a reason for believers to keep hanging around. Even as the Israelites were not ready yet to enter the promise land for they were not prepared yet so too even though we have received eternal life, all of us whose trust is in the blood of Christ for our atonement, we are not ready to enter into God’s glory just because we believe. But when we are ready then we are received. You don’t want to enter into glory half-baked. St. Paul writes:2Co 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (17) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (18) as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” It reminds me of C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce” where those who have been brought to heaven have to toughen up and grow up before they can even handle walking on the grass.
Again St. Paul writes: Rom 5:3-5 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (4) and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The Lord is still working on us. Through our walking through this wilderness like the ancient people of God, Jesus is working on producing these characteristics in you. He does this to prepare you for the day you enter into the promised-land. It is a life-long work of the Holy Spirit.
Just as the Israelites were fully armed as they entered the wilderness, to fight in the Lord their enemies who they may encounter so too we are armed and prepared for battle. (Eph 6:11-13) In this wilderness it isn’t the Moabites or the Edomites we have to worry about. No our foe is Satan and all his minions who tempt us to despair of our salvation or to think we are good enough and don’t need Christ. He places barriers in our way of reaching others with the good news of Jesus’ all sufficient sacrifice for sins on the cross. Only with God’s armor, which is the Word of God in all its forms can we stand.
Lord Jesus Christ, as we await to enter into paradise, grant us such faith that we may persevere until the day you have fully prepared us to enter into paradise with you and the thief. Amen.