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7/2 Reading Portions: Joshua 4; Psalms 129-131; Isaiah 64; Matthew 12
Joshua 4:10
For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.
JORDAN
As mentioned yesterday, the crossing of the Jordan River represents an aspect of our salvation, just as the crossing of the Red Sea reflects grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When the “waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away” to allow Israel to pass into the Land of Promise (Josh 3:16), the people passed over in haste (Josh 4:10). The evangelistic plea unto sinners to receive salvation is one of urgency. Although the Spirit’s work on a soul is eternal, and though it may take many years of His work on a stony heart to be prepared for receiving the gospel (like the 40-year wilderness wandering of Israel), the final call into the gospel promises and inheritance of Christ is one of compelling import. Jesus’ first message preached was:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
In other words, “Repent and don’t delay, because heaven’s kingdom is, right now, readily available!” Paul, quoting and then interpreting Isaiah’s “favorable time” prophecy, told the Corinthians:
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
For sinners, Mr. Spurgeon preached in 1864—
“A hurry! when a man is on the edge of damnation and on the borders of the grave! Do not talk of hurry, sir; when it is a case of life and death, let us fly swift as a flash of lightning.” —C. H. Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 10, Sermon #603
Yet as saints saved by God’s grace, the haste and now of salvation also has many implications for us. The present time is the only time you and I may ever have. Our sovereign God miraculously abates the rivers of our circumstances and bids us cross— in haste! Life in Christ is an eternal now, building for that which is not yet. When temptations lurk, hasten to the cross. When sorrows cast their clouds, hasten to gaze joyously upon our risen and ascended Christ. When tribulations come, hasten to find strength in our powerful Messiah. When persecutions press, hasten toward the security found alone in the Rock of Ages. Hallelujah! What a Savior!