Moving Forward in Faith

As Christians, we are on a journey of faith where our ultimate destiny is heaven. The Israelites’ exodus from Egypt is like a pilgrim’s progress that serves as a lesson for our journey today. They saw the Red Sea part. They were given manna and water in the desert. Yet when it was time to enter Canaan, they didn't believe God—so they wandered 40 years in the wilderness.

Their leader, Moses, was a friend of God who spoke with Him face to face and received the law at Sinai—yet was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. He told the people in Deuteronomy 3:26,

“The Lord was angry with me on your account.”

Yet God also gave Moses a wonderful promise:

“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Jesus fulfilled this as a prophet, ruler, and priest. God poured out all of His wrath on His Son, which means there is none left for you and me.

Of course, like the Israelites, we need to recognize that God is a consuming fire. We must watch to see where He is moving at every point along our journey so we can advance from glory to glory. And as we focus on our ultimate destination, we want to equip others for the journey as well.

God told Moses:

“Command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see” (Deuteronomy 3:28).

It’s vital for each generation to transmit the faith to the next generation and teach them how to inherit God’s promises. Moses said in Deuteronomy 4:5:

“I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.”

Paul echoed this in writing to Timothy:

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13).

So, who is your Timothy? Who is your Joshua? May God bless you on your journey as you share your faith with the next generation.

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.