NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD
HEAVEN ON EARTH?
“But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” —Deut. 11:11-12
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Here is a remarkable text in a remarkable context (vv. 11-21). It is the divine description of the “promised land.” Now we have before noted that Canaan is not a type of heaven, but it is a figure of the potential of the grace and goodness of God to provide tranquility and blessing in the midst of a tragic and troubled world. In fact His description and exhortation includes the emphasis, “That your days may be multiplied…as the days of heaven upon earth.”
The thoughtful reader may be taken back to “the beginning,” before the catastrophe and conflict brought in by sin, when “…the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden… [Gen. 2:8-10].”
So, the prospect set before Israel is settlement in “God’s garden,” furnished by Him, cared for by Him, suited to satisfy every legitimate need of theirs. In a world of conflict, under the hand of the Almighty, they could look forward to true and proper peace and prosperity, once they were settled there.
There was, however, a prerequisite. The affirmation of God’s maintenance of the land is couched between two verses delineating the condition of this settled peace. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul (v.13)—and—“Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them” (v.16). It is the same condition iterated positively and negatively.
This is not a promise of salvation. That had already been accomplished in their deliverance from Egypt. It is rather a prescription for enjoying the potential of their deliverance as God intended it.
There is a lesson here for New Testament believers. We are called out from the world into “the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,” with the Savior’s promise, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid [Jn 14:27].” We are assured, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus [Phil. 4:19].”
We tend to take these promises of peace and provision for granted, too often missing the fact that while salvation is a free gift depending only upon faith in Christ, the enjoyment of that salvation is conditional. The Savior Himself said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” We are throughout the New Testament urged to abide in Christ, to “walk as He walked,” and, if we love Him to keep His commandments.å
In addition, we are reminded that we enjoy His rest in the midst of an imperfect and uncertain world. ”These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world [John 16:33].” Christ, not Canaan, is to be our abiding place and His will our first concern. And we must keep ever in mind that we are surrounded by the influences of the adversary that will ever war against the promises of God.
Too often our quest is to make our nest too comfortable this side of eternity. As believers we have no reason to expect “heaven on earth,” nor to make that our goal. ”For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name [Heb. 13:14-15].” Our goal must be the Lord, not the “land.”
“But first seek his Kingdom and the righteousness that he requires, and then all these things shall be added for you.”
—Mt. 6:33 (TCNT)
—"Pastor" Frasier
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9/22/12
These "Nuggets," including past issues, are now available online at
http://wmf14227.blogspot.com/ - or - http://pastorfrasier.blogspot.com/ prior to 4/1/12
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