God promised Abraham that He would give him and his descendants all the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession (Gen.17:8). At the time of God’s promise, Abraham did not own a square foot of land nor had he been blessed with a son through his wife, Sarah. Neither promise was fulfilled immediately. Abraham waited 25 years for his son, Isaac (Gen. 12:4 cf. Gen. 21:5). Another 400 years would pass before Abraham’s descendants would return to the land after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Even then, it was never God’s intention to give them the land all at once, but little by little (Ex. 23:29-30). As they grew in number, they were to drive out all the inhabitants of the land into which they expanded their occupation (Num. 33:52). They were warned that if they did not drive out the inhabitants, God would no longer fight for them and those they had allowed to remain would become “thorns” in their sides and in their “eyes” until they perished from the land (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13; Jud. 2:3). Nevertheless, God fulfilled His promise — not one word failed to come to pass (Josh. 24:14). All that remained was for them to keep the conditions of God’s promise.
We, too, have been delivered from slavery. We have passed through the Sea. Set before us is our own land flowing with milk and honey. Possession is promised if we place our trust in Jesus. As our Captain, Jesus leads us on to glory, fighting for us against the enemy (Heb. 2:10, NKJV). Little by little, we move forward in possessing His likeness (2 Cor. 3:18; Rm. 8:29). But, if we do not make a concerted effort to drive out the inhabitants of our former life, we will no longer have the benefit of God’s help. We must consider ourselves dead to the former things which once were ours in our ignorance — sins which now must be driven out of our lives (e.g. Col. 3:5ff). Paul says to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rm. 13:14). Do we look into the mirror of God’s word without making needed changes? (Jas. 1:23-24). Have we grown comfortable with “pet” sins, not realizing that the enemy within is slowly drawing us away from Jesus and our only hope of eternal salvation? Take one step today in the direction of Christ. Take another tomorrow and so on. The need is too urgent and the destiny too important for any delay.
— Glen Elliott —