One Thing (continued) will, in turn, enjoy the victory He alone can give you. Spiritual maturity is a process. Paul didn’t say that he had apprehended, but that one thing was his purpose. He kept pressing for ward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He continually handed over to the Lord the right to be all that he needed. The one fatal mistake in Joshua’s day was not to continue in the victori ous process which had been set down. In the battle of Jericho, the chil dren of Israel became completely ex hausted. In the heat of the day, God fought a victory for them because they were trusting in Him to do so. They knew that they couldn’t do it them selves. The one thing that was needful was for God to be absolute in the en tire situation. They should have praised God for His victory, but it is a sad thing that the seventh chapter of Joshua opens with a little three letter word, “but.” How sad that in many a Christian life, after a spiritual victory, defeat enters the heart. In this case, a man named Achan decided that he deserved the reward for his part in the battle. He refused to recognize that the only reason the Israelites were trium phant was because of the Lord. He decided to take some of the glory. He pillaged gold and silver which was supposed to be returned to God for His reward. Achan hid the treasures be neath his tent. Thè next battle facing the Israelites was a small one and they felt they didn’t need the Lord. How miserably they failed. As a re sult Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord. The elders of Israel put dust upon their heads. Joshua said to God, “Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of Jordan!” In re sponse, the Lord said unto Joshua, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus up on thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my cove-
NOTED FAMILY COUNSELOR AND CHRISTIAN PSYCHOLOGIST FEATURED AT CONFERENCE
Dr. Henry Brandt will be featured August 18-25 at Biola’s Family Bible Conference, Firs, Bellingham, Washington. nant which I commanded them.” God was not to be blamed for their failure. We cannot justly accuse the Lord for the defeats of our lives. As with Israel, if we allow the Lord to be in the position that He must be in, then we will enjoy victory and not miserable frustration. Achan was put to death for his sin and Israel again enjoyed victory after victory. We must do the same. In Hebrews 11:6, we read, “But without faith it is impossi ble to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that dili gently seek him.” Have you begun to walk in the process of acknowledging the sovereignty of Christ in y o u r heart? This must be done in the face of every situation that arises. Only then will we be qualified “to teach others also.” Give the Lord the glory, and the praise. You will discover that life be comes so useful and so different that you will desire to teach others also to yield to Him, allowing Him to give them the life that wins! 32
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