How Long?

Joshua 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt.  He had preserved them through thewilderness.  He had prepared and calledthem into the Promised Land, and He had given them victory after victory whenthey moved forward in obedience to Him. 

But still they hesitated. Still they failed to fully claim the promise of God.

I don’t know why this was true, but I do know that I oftenfail to fully take God at His word.  Iwait when He says ‘Go’.  I worry when Hesays, “Fear Not”.  I live in defeat whenHe has given me the power of the resurrection to claim.  I avoid when He calls me to engage.  I rehash the past even though I know that Hisforgiveness is full and complete.

The first chapter of the book of Colossians is filled withpromise and hope and power as God uses Paul to remind us of our position inChrist.  Words like grace, peace, faith,love, hope, truth, power, joyfulness, light, redemption, and forgiveness fillthe first fourteen verses.  I want toreally look at verses 12 – 14, though.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet (or suitable) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Who HAS DELIVERED us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the   kingdom of His dear Son: in Whom we HAVE redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:12-14

Do you see it?  We havebeen delivered from the power of darkness! This is present tense.  This is victory.  God didn’t say there would be no darkness,but He did say that we are delivered from its power.  He has prepared us to be participants in theinheritance of the saints through the blood of His Son.  The price is paid.  Our part in the family is signed andsealed. 

Some days I just need to sit and think about the absoluteassurance that is found in these verses. Some days when it seems the darkness is more than I can take or the endpurpose eludes me, I need to remember – He has delivered me from the power ofdarkness.  I need to remember, claim thiscertainty in my life, and move forward in the victory He has given.

That’s me – delivered, whole, forgiven, secure, redeemed, saint – all because of the work of Jesus on the cross.

Now to live like it.

Photo by Bruno Scramgnon on

How long will we let darkness rule while we hide the Light within our souls?How long will we pay tribute to the raging whims of a defeated foe?How long will scars imprison us as we ignore the victory that is won?How long will we allow the past to map the future, set in stone?How long?How long will we choose worry over faith and guiltiness over grace?How long will our hearts flounder in confusion when God has shown the way?How long will we scorn sacrifice, clinging to the things we cannot keep?How long will we rely on our own strength and falter when we feebly fail?How long? How long?