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The heading for this article came from two statements
made by honest, honorable, daring and courageous men. The first was
said by Ronald Reagan and has since been a slogan that is seen as a
great symbol of freedom. The second was said by Joshua to the people
who were reluctant to go in and take the land that God had given them
(Josh 14:12).
Both men mentioned above were successful in their
efforts, but the “hearers” were not successful in both cases. In the
latter case, the people did not take the mountain or the land, and the
results were disastrous for them and for their progeny. Mr. Reagan was
successful because the people listened and acted favorably. Joshua was
successful because he pleased God by doing his part – though the people
lacked the faith to respond to God in a favorable way.
God’s children in our day (Christians) are faced with
obstacles and difficulties, and some may be just as important as was
the task the Jewish people faced after the instruction from God to
drive the enemies out of the new land they were given. But as with
Joshua, we must have faith that God will be with us, helping us in all
our endeavors. God needs more soldiers who are willing to stand up and
be leaders - to encourage the people to tear down walls and take
mountains. The mountain was not taken, yet Joshua showed God that he
had the faith. Therefore, he was allowed to enter the Promised Land.
But, all the grownups that lacked the faith in God to stand against the
enemy were prohibited from entering the Promised Land.
All Christians have some walls to tear down and some
mountains to take, but preachers and leaders in the church have the
greater responsibility (James 3:1). What would the world be like if
Ronald Reagan had not encouraged the tearing down of the Berlin wall?
What would the world be like if since Catholism “men of God” simply
ignored God’s commands and did not even try to tell the people the
truth on important matters that would be met with resistance?
Indeed, each of us have walls to tear down and mountains
to take. The wall might be pride, and the pride might be what keeps us
from taking the mountain. If there is some wall that God wants us to
tear down, or some mountain that He wants us to take, we must not let
pride get in the way. (Pr 11:2) - “When pride cometh, then cometh
shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Pr 16:18) – “Pride goeth before
destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Maybe the mountain that we need to take is controlled by
an enemy who we think is too strong to defeat. If so, the problem, as
with the people with whom Joshua pleaded, is lack of faith. And, we
must realize that, as in the case with Joshua (as far as his personal
reward is concerned), it matters not that we defeat the enemy. What
matters is that we show God that we trust Him and are willing to obey
regardless of the obstacles that appear great in human eyes (Numbers
13:32,32).
Where do you stand on controversial issues like church
support of human institutions, divorce and remarriage and instrumental
music in worship etc.? Does God see you as an honest man – honorable,
daring and courageous? Or have you closed your eyes to the real
problems facing the church and now stand with the faithless - those who
are afraid of the enemy?
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