Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it. And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. (Num. 33:51-54)
Israel has come to the end of their wanderings in the wilderness and God had Moses, after recording all their journeys from Egypt to Jordan, prepare the people for the tasks before them. The LORD instructed the children of Israel to go in to the land and subdue it, conquer the peoples there, and drive out their sin, for their sin of idolatry and rebellion had polluted the land. They were to destroy all that pertained to the practices of sin which the inhabitants had set up and take possession, divide the land by tribe and family until each had their place, from the greatest to the least, and all had inherited that which God had promised to Abraham and the children of Israel. God promised to bring the judgment of these people upon Israel if they did not do as He commanded.
Though Christians are strangers and pilgrims here, we are to conquer sin through the Spirit of God within and His power and victory through His Word. Our weapons are not of this world nor is our battle with those who are lost in sin, but against principalities and powers, and with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. We are to possess that which God has given us: liberty to live in Christ, not license to sin, but power to live the life which He has for us to live; and freedom from the penalty and power of sin because of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We do not destroy sinners in this age of grace, but we do stand against the works of the devil and judge with righteous judgment the sin which God has already condemned that those who are in sin may repent, turning from their sin and to God in faith and surrender to Him on His terms, that they might be reconciled with the Father.
While we are here God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet