Opportunities 3: The River

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So there was this time in the Bible that this nation named Israel stood at the edge of a river.  Not just any river, though, THE river.  Where they stood was safe.  On their side of course.  There they had families and a history.  They had familiarity and comfort.  The problem is that there was one thing they were missing out on that dwelt on the other side.

Life.

Real life.  Not just the I'm-happy-doing-my-thing kind of life.  No.  More of the I-have-a-significance kind.  Call it what you want (fate, destiny, will) but you know what I'm talking about.  The life that you want.  The life with meaning, action, truth.  All of us feel it.  Or better yet, have felt the lack of it.  It's that, "Is there something more?" feeling.  We stand on our side of the river.

So here we have these people.  Of course this isn't the first time they've stood here.  Their parents where here 40 years before.  Same chance.  Same opportunity.  Stay and never change, or cross and find life.  See the problem with crossing is that there's risk.  There are armies on the other side.  There are giants.  Cities are impenetrable and the enemy is fierce.  That first generation saw that.  Sometimes looking at the risk can cause us to forget the reward.  It happened to that first generation and they paid dearly for it.  40 years worth of paying for it.  They had their chance and blew it.

Not it's their kids turn.  The first generation is gone, and Joshua's team is up at bat.    

So what would you do?  Risk and see what happens?  Take the chance?  Sit back and be happy where you're at?  What would you do?

History shows Joshua took the step.  Faith.  He jumped.  He went after the true life, the true promise.

Giants? Yeah.  Fortified cities?  Sure.  Armies and wars?  Yep.  And it all started when he crossed the river.  Of course so did the beginning of a new life.  Why?  Because where Joshua went, God was already there.  Calling.  Waiting.  Wanting them to take the step.

It's amazing.  God gave that nation a second chance.  He forgave the first generation and led their kids back to the river.  I believe in a God of second chances, don't you?  I wouldn't be here writing this if He wasn't. 

On the other hand.  I don't believe that He is always a God of second opportuinities.    

There are times that we all find ourselves at the edge of the river.  Life sits on the other side.  God sits on the other side.  And He waits for us to make a choice.  Do we follow after Him and find life?  Do we stay and wander aimlessly?

I never pet that goat.  I let it walk away.  I never called Chris like God told me to.  A couple days later though, I recieved a call that he had drown in a river.  God's forgiven me both times.  Unfortunantly though, in both, I lost my opportunity.  And I deeply regret them.

May you find yourself at the edge of the river.  And when you do, be bold.  Step into life.  Because God never asks you to go somewhere that He is not at already.  Find life.

[check out where this history of Israel is recorded:  Numbers 13-14 and Joshua 1-2, John 10:10]