“But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.”
Joshua 7:1 NKJV
Rollercoaster
One of the characteristics of my early walk with the Lord, was my propensity to experience great victory, only to stumble and fall shortly there after. I was living life on a spiritual rollercoaster, where my God had delivered the victory to me, as I had obeyed HIs commands, only to later follow my flesh and face plant at the first opportunity. I spent many a season locked in a sin/confess cycle, greatly troubled.
In Joshua this morning, I read of the children of Israel, entering the promised land and facing their first test. Upon those first steps, they encountered the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah Saboath.
“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.”
Joshua 6:1-2 NKJV
The Lord, preincarnate Christ, gave them instruction of what they were to do. He was testing their obedience. In reality He had already delivered the victory. They did all that they were to do, except one thing:
“And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.”
Joshua 6:18 NKJV
I have learned that the Lord Jesus has delivered the victory to those who have called upon Him in faith. For in the forgiveness of sins, we have been made victorious, having overcome sin and death. Upon salvation, we have all that we need to live godly lives, for we have His very presence, as the Holy Spirit in us resides.
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
II Peter 1:2-4 NKJV
Though we have been given that great promise, we still have free will. Achan knew what was expected, and he saw the deliverance of the Lord as Jericho fell, yet he chose to sin, taking the accursed things. He allowed himself to be captured by unbelief, not thinking the Lord would notice or care.
In my early days of faith, I knew that the Lord had saved me from sin, and that He had saved me from future condemnation from sin, but I chose to embrace the cursed things of this world, and like the children of Israel, I was troubled by it.
In my spiritual infancy, I was living in unbelief, not realizing that the Lord does indeed notice when we sin and disobey.
Like Achan, I too would remain silent of my sin, trying desperately to resist as the Lord pressed in on me. Holding sin unconfessed is like having a festering wound, draining one of strength and filling the body with misery.
Unlike Achan, I faced no condemnation, but have a renewed joy when I relent. Jesus paid the price for my sin. It is only when I confessed that I find the joy of my salvation once again, and can enjoy the victory the Lord Jesus has afforded me.
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah”
Psalms 32:1-4 NKJV
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
Psalms 51:10-12 NKJV
Brothers and sisters, let us be mindful of all the Lord as done, and let us remember that the Lord has already delivered the victory if you have called upon the Lord Jesus for salvation. Regardless of what is to come, you can no that you can have peace. May we seek to exalt the Lord each day, glorifying Him, even when the temptations are great.
Let us not ride the spiritual rollercoaster, being held captive in sin /confess cycle, but let us live righteously, enjoy victory upon victory.
We have been given the mission to take the Gospel to the world, defeating the enemy one soul at a time. May we be faithful warriors, walking in obedience seeking not the cursed things for ourselves, but amassing spiritual treasure to be laid at the feet of Jesus.
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Musings from an idle mind 
Paul, so thankful for how the Lord has reduced the highs and lows of the Christian walk in my life. So thankful for advancing in my faith, for advancing in our faith my friend. May the Lord continue to “create in us a clean heart?“ Thanks so much brother.
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The name “Paul” was a talk to text error.
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