POSITIONED

The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain – Deuteronomy 1:6

God has called us to possess, not to merely visit our Promised Land. How can we be POSITIONED to possess all that He has purchased for us? Deuteronomy 1:6 was referring to Mount Sinai, also called Horeb, where Moses met and had forty-day conversations with God. It was the place where the Children of Israel had some of their most profound experiences and revelations about God. It was here that they gained insight into their previously nameless and imageless God as He revealed Himself as Jehovah. The people were so terrified that they insisted that Moses stay between them and God. From these peaks they learned about God’s character through the revelation of the Ten Commandments. This was an incredibly prominent landmark both geographically and spiritually for this fledgling nation.

In this unique position and timing a fresh divine Instruction came, that it was time to make a move, to advance into the hill country of the Amorites. Every new move in God is preceded by a fresh Word from Him. The Master Motivator was basically compelling the Israelites to relearn everything they had learned about Him. They were to leave their greatest spiritual experiences; and to turn their back on their comfort zone. At this time they had circled this mountain for thirty eight years. Now, they were to leave the mountain and advance into unknown, uncharted territory. This move was required because He had a land, a home, an inheritance that was theirs to take (Dt. 1:21).

Beloved, is it not time for you to get away from that 'comfort-zone' mountain of yours? You have camped at the mountain for too long. You're already erecting monuments on the mountain instead of gaining momentum to advance! You have circled your present level of knowledge, revelation, and experience of God well enough. You have been content to stay within sight of conventional experiences and familiar scenery. You are more comfortable with the predictable; walking in the familiar shadow of what you have always known. The path is easy to find; just following the tracks you have left behind year after year. However, God wants you to advance. He wants you to head toward the possession of His promises. You cannot get there until you first get away from the cocoon of complacency you have constructed for yourself.

It is time for fresh oil, a new encounter, renewed revelation, an uncharted path, and a higher summit! So the people began to move. Moses was taken and buried by God. Joshua became the newly anointed and appointed leader (Jos.1:1-10). He mobilized the people to cross the Jordan, to chart a course that they had never gone before. God shows up when we step out by faith and move outside our comfort zone. The waters miraculously piled up and the people crossed on dry ground, now closing in on their possession (Jos.3:11-14).

We who are in Christ have been positioned by God's Mercy and Grace to possess all of our divinely ordained possessions! God "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph.1:3b). In order to access and enjoy these blessings, He positioned us in the same "heavenly places": "and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph.2:6). We have been made alive, given a new life in Him, and given citizenship of heaven. This world is not the Christian's home: we are pilgrims here. We have received our Passport to heaven - Faith in what Jesus has done for us. We are properly positioned to possess our temporal blessings and eternal inheritances.