The Prize of Obedience

"Unto thy seed will I give this land"
Deut 12:7

The Reward
This is what the Israelites were waiting for. After the burden of slavery in Egypt, and over 40 years wandering the desert, they finally arrived to the borders of Cannaan. Moses who led the people out of Egypt and had gone through so much, was so excited to finally arrive at the borders that he asked God "I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan." (Deut 3:25) Try to imagine the most beautiful nature hike you have ever taken. Then multiply it times ten. It was a coveted land inhabited by many nations of which God drove out for his chosen people to enjoy. But there was a condition. A condition that has never and will never change. You read it over, and over again especially just before Moses dies. The last words of most are important. They want to communicate something of utmost importance. Something they want remembered for years to come. So what did Moses say? "hearken, O Israel unto the statutes and unto the judgments....that ye may live and go in and possess the land which the Lord God...giveth you."

Deut 4:1

The Requirement
Obedience. I could list probably hundreds of verses but you might think i'm a little crazy. Now before you shut me down lets look at the intimate relationship that exists between a loving father and his son. If a father loves his son, and shows him throughout the years that he has only his good in mind, the son trusts his father and obeys him. You see, it's not really obedience that Christ is after. It's our love that he really wants. You might have heard Christ say this before. "If you love me keep my commandments." (John 14:15) Obedience is not an option. It's an automatic natural expression of our love towards God. It's not something you have to do, it's something you want to do, and it was a requirement for the Israelites to obtain the promised Land. It is still a requirement for us today.

The Strength
Well thats just salvation by works Chuck! Nope, it's still salvation through faith. If we break the law we lose out. But Christ made a way. Back then God's followers were required to be circumcised. Today it's baptism. It's a sign, an outward expression of our faith in Christ. We die to our old selves and are born again new creatures by the power of WHO? Christ! He is the one that will give us the strength to obey.

The Exchange

Did you know friend that God has a promised land as well? there is a land that he desires more than the land of Cannaan. There is a land that you possess and can give to God. Thats right! Your heart. God wants it more than anything else. The prophet moses says..

The land whither thou goest in to possess is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou soest thy seed....but it is a land that drinketh water of the rain of heaven. A land which the Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end...If you hearken diligently unto my commandments....to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul...That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain.Deut 11:10-14

Did you hear that! He said it's a land that the Lord thy God Careth for! Scripture says our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and what God wants more than anything else is to dwell in that temple. The land of the heart. So what are you waiting for? Why dont you give it to Him today? You have nothing to lose, and Heaven to gain.

This are for testing purposes only (wickipedia, what is hydrotherapy, alternative medicine, natural remedies, diabetes, cancer, wildwood, health, lifestyle medicine, how to cure cancer,)