Crossing Over

Why is it that so many people, even professing believers of various faiths, always feel as if they can’t quite make it to the life God desires for them? When Israel was wandering in the wilderness after the exodus God led them to the Jordan River, and there bid them to enter the promised land. What went wrong? After all they had been through, they lacked the faith to take that final step. These were the people who had experienced the miracle of the exodus, crossed the Red Sea, followed a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and eaten manna every day. What more did they need to believe that their God would see them through? After witnessing so much of God’s power and protection they were still unwilling to trust Him. It’s a familiar story because we are much the same as them today. We have not only their example, bolstered by the priceless wisdom of hindsight and historical knowledge, but also the testament of our own life experiences. Yet, we shy away from the final step. Like stubborn mules or frightened children, we remain unwilling to put a single toe into the Jordan Rivers of our own lives. God offers us peace and rest and relationship and protection … and we turn our backs on Him. Over and over, we choose the wilderness instead of the lives we were actually created for. But why? Yes, there’s fear and faithlessness and a host of other issues, but in the end it really only boils down to one thing: pride. We are simply unwilling to relinquish control of our lives to God. Worst of all, by doing so we technically make ourselves out to be God, at least functionally, by choosing our will over His. And let’s face it, we know that life could be way better if we lived it on His plan. A little scary perhaps, but deeper and better. I’m guessing that, just like me, you will reach the edge of the Jordan again sometime today or this week. The water may look too cold or too rough or too deep, or whatever, but we’ve simply got to take a step out into the stream and see what happens. That better life awaits us right there on the farther shore, but we must trust Him enough to cross over. Take a good hard look at life, especially in the eternal perspective, and consider if another forty years in the wilderness is really what you want. Then let’s take the plunge together.

Crossing Over
Over and over, we come to the Jordan
To the brink of comfort and rest
We pause to gaze into the promised land
Then turn back to the wilderness
Unwilling to claim the promise
We thought we were living for
We turn, as to an empty ocean
From the long awaited shore
Why won’t we cross over and go in?
Why won’t we accept the life?
That God intends for us each to live
We turn from His peace to strife
What is it that keeps us from crossing?
At last, to the promised land
To the place we know is better
For which we prayed and planned
One thing bars our way across
Not wood nor steel nor stone
A barrier more impenetrable
Stands between us and God’s throne
Each of us understands the way
To cross to the other side
Yet the monster blocking our path to peace
Is our own unquenchable pride
What is it about the wilderness
That we should turn from the promised land
To this world of pain and worry
And away from God’s outstretched hand
Crossing over to God is but to yield
And place our trust in His worthiness
God waits for us with open arms
But we must accept His rest
By Frank Carpenter ©