“They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” Joshua 5:12.
Charles Spurgeon describes this New Year experience best when he said:
“Israel’s weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it will yield unalloyed delight.”
Every new year we make resolutions, and it is always a good time to ask God to help us. Today it would be most appropriate to seek God’s help because we are living in perilous times. The Bible describes this period of earth’s history as the end-times. These are eventful days in which the prophecies are being fulfilled. The world is becoming more and more chaotic and bent on self-destruction as people have forgotten the mercies of a loving God.
“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7.
“Soon grievous troubles will arise among the nations,—trouble that will not cease until Jesus comes” (Maranatha, p. 174.2)
There is widespread spiritual darkness and a world-wide apostasy that is engulfing the globe. The nations are in trouble because they have forsaken God and are rejecting His word. Judgment is at the door. Already we see judgments in the land – earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, floods, war, terror and social agitations – but more will come. This is a time to plead for mercy, forgiveness and repentance because this godless planet is ripe for destruction.
And what is going on in the churches these days? They are asleep drifting in the ocean of carelessness, coldness and worldly conformity. This is the condition of the church, by and large. The professing churches of our nation are in desperate need of revival because they are also in danger of God’s judgment.
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16.
The lukewarm attitude in today’s churches have settled for a complacent, cozy Christianity that has embraced and has assimilated to the prevailing culture. That is where we are today. No wonder our world is in trouble.
And even though blind leaders may shout boastful words in the “solemn assemblies,” the Bible says that God is sick of it (Isaiah 1:10-16). Literally. He rebukes the lukewarm church of this age because many “solemn assemblies” have become a spectacle, a circus show, an effort at blending worldly entertainment with the atmosphere of a nightclub.
The church was designed to be the instrument for bringing salvation and blessings to the world. The church is meant to be the agency of God’s grace and the center of evangelization. Yet, sadly, many of us have fallen from this calling.
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:5.
We need a New Year’s resolution that will restore the high and holy calling of God’s people. The church is to be a separated people who have been called to be holy and undefiled. Only as we shake ourselves from our spiritual slumber can God restore the sacredness of the church in these last days.
We are living in a crisis-hour for both the world and for God’s people. Truly, the Lord is coming soon. Let us seek Him this new year and make Him our New Year’s resolution. Let us trust Him to bring conviction and restoration to our lives. Let God toss out the idols from within and let Him repair the broken family altar in our homes. If we plead the promises of God’s grace and yield humble obedience to His word, we will have the presence and blessings of the Lord with us.
Then the words will be fulfilled that say, “but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” Joshua 5:12.
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