Too Late

"When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, 'Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised.' But Moses said, 'Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the Lord, when it will not succeed? Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the Lord. And the Lord will not be with you.' But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses left the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah." -Numbers 14.39-45

Israel has received God's punishment, and they are greatly saddened by it. For many of them the Promised Land was a dream that they had never imagined they would see. The deliverer who would lead them out of Egypt was one they longed to see, but never had they imagined they would see him in their life time. Now they see that the fulfillment of God's promise was within their grasp, and they allowed it to slip through their fingers.

Now, after realizing what they have done, they hope to change the situation. After the judgment has been given and they don't like it, they decide that they can trust God. The are prepared to go to battle and take the land so that they don't have to die in the wilderness. But for them it is too late. They had every opportunity and they let each one pass by. Moses warns them that they will not succeed in taking the land because God will not be with them. Moses himself remains in the camp when they go out, and just as he said, the people are defeated.

The people tried to force God's hand. After it was too late they tried to do what God had wanted them to do. But their last chance had passed them by, time had run out. They would not ever see the blessings God had for them in the Promised Land. They would never see the promise made to Abraham fulfilled. For them it was too late.

I read this section of Scripture and my mind goes to the judgment seat of Christ. One day every one of us will enter the presence of God to receive the final judgment. Every knee will bow before Christ and declare that He is Lord. Those that have done it in life will be welcomed into eternal paradise, forever to spend in perfect harmony with God. But for those who haven't it will be too late. Every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord because it must happen, but if that is the first time that your tongue declares Jesus as Lord it will be too late. Those who wait until they see that God is real, that He is serious about Heaven and Hell, for them it will be too late, and they will spend eternity separated from God.

Men, what will your fate be? Have you willingly bowed your knee to Christ and declared Him to be the Lord of your life? Have you ruled Him out as non-existent, or as someone who doesn't want you to have any fun? Now may be the last chance you have to turn to Him, because once you take your final breath it will be too late. As you kneel before Him, in all of His glory, you will declare that He is Lord, but at that point you will be driven out of His presence forever. What are you waiting for? What is keeping you from declaring Him as your Lord?

God gave Israel chance after chance to trust Him and receive the blessings He had for them, but time after time they rejected Him, and finally it was too late. For you right now it is not too late.

(If you have questions, or would like to know more about making Jesus the Lord of your life, I have an email address at the bottom left of this blog page. I would love the opportunity to share with you in more detail and help in any way that I can.)

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor