GoodNews Letter
No. 359 February 16, 2011
TESTIMONY WITHIN
"Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do," Deuteronomy 29:9
Moses instructs Israel to obedience in these last chapters of the Decalogue. He includes everyone in the camp. "Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, for the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water" (29:11).
When I read these accounts, I'm thinking, 'If I experienced all that God did for Israel those forty years, I would certainly be faithful to Him.' Their clothes didn't wear out. Their shoes were the same. But, in verse 4, we see that the Lord did not give Israel "a heart to perceive nor eyes to see, hearts to hear...," at that time.
However, when I think about knowing Moses and Joshua, alone, I would complete any task given to me. Why! I'd be faithful and stand right beside with Caleb and Joshua.
Then, when we apply the words of Moses to our day of 2011 or, much better, have the opportunity to hear the very words of Jesus, we ought to be faithful to our calliing. It seems though that people are no different - no matter what time period they live within. What God has done is quickly forgotten. And, it doesn't take forty years of struggling in the desert to forget, either. Even today, People seem to be seeking ways to break fellowship with every leader; whether, Moses or anyone else standing for the truth.
Having a desire to NOT DO WHAT GOD WHAT US TO DO is the trouble that the flesh gives us, of course. But, let's go back to Egypt and remember the hard times before we came under God's love. What about then? And, more than that, let's remember the day we were saved? Wasn't it the sweetest moment of your life? Sure it was! When I trusted Jesus as my Savior in 1959, I didn't just make a decision. I was gloriously transformed into the love of Jesus and His work. How can I not obey? Well, I can't. I don't want to disobey God nor anyone living, inside the camp or without.
I take the Lord's work, personally. I mean, every portion; from Abraham to Jesus. Every person is special to me. And, on the day of the feast, when Jesus "...shall gird himself...and will come forth and serve them" (Lk 12:37), I'll be looking for "...Abraham, and Isasc, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God..." (Lk 13:28). In my heart, I can see Jacob sitting next to you and Abraham next to me. What a joy.
A "TESTIMONY WITHIN" thrills the heart so much that there is nothing in the world that can compare to it; especially, if our testimony is alive. Our position is set; for, we are told "..that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ..." (Gal. 3:15) cannot be "dissannulled or addeth thereto..." (Gal 3:16).
What we need today is more attitudes and testimonies like that of Paul. Let's all rise to our feet and say, "Men...and ye that fear God, give audience." We need to memorize Paul's sermon of Acts 13. But, for now, let's see a few of God's promises that Paul preached.
1) "God chose our fathers...in the land of Egypt, and brought them out of it" (Acts 13:17).
2) They were "forty years...in the wilderness" (Acts 13:18).
3) "And...destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land to them by lot" (Acts 13:19).
4) He gave them "judges" for forty years (Acts 13:20).
5) "God gave them Saul" as king (Acts 13:21).
6) Removing Saul, "He raised up unto them David...and said...I have found David a man after mine own heart" (Acts 13:22).
7) "Of this man's seed hath God according to He promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus" (Acts 13:23).
"Of this man's seed." What a declaration to hang on to, friend. The Bible is one promise that began with Abraham and continued to the day of Jesus. Because Jesus lives, we will, as well. Cleary, God's word is true. It will come to pass and, it will be just as He said it. Let us be thankful! that we of the New Covennat have so much more than Israel did. We have the Holy Spirit of truth and the promise of Jesus "sending Him unto you" (Jn 16:7) to "guide us into all truth" (Jn 16:13).
Finally, for this short article, Paul tells us that a connection of the Second Coming of Christ is tied to the "TESTIMONY WITHIN" our hearts, today. Listen carefully to 2 Thessalonians 1:10: "When He shall come to be glorified His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."
And so, our TESTIMONY joins in with what Paul had in his heart; that, "God would count you worthy of this calling...that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you...according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2Thess. 1:11,12).