7
Looking Towards Salvation
| Bro Stanley Blackstone (UK)
I
believe that our knowledge of God’s Way of
Salvation can be strengthened by everything
that happens every day of our lives. We can
strongly control whether or not we view the
individual details in our lives in God’s way.
Let us lay a foundation for this by looking at 2
Corinthians 4:6 and 18. We have to look at the
temporal and see its spiritual lessons which
will help us understand God’s way better and
also follow more closely in
our Master’s footsteps. All
the time looking and
searching for spiritual
lessons, instead of dwelling
upon that which can so
easily be a depressing situa-
tion.
I came across a proverb
recently: “Look not with
your eyes for they see only
limitations. Instead look
with your understanding
and you will see much
more.” So the men of faith
in Hebrews 11 were com-
mended for their spiritual vision: their ability
to see God’s purpose, which they allowed to
work in their lives.
Before we turn to Hebrews let us remember
the words of our Master: “But as the days of
Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son
of Man be” (Matthew 24:37). Are we working
to prepare for the return of our Lord? Building
an ark of safety? An ark of love, of loving
appreciation of what God has done for us? An
ark with dimensions declared in terms of love
(Ephesians 3:17-19).
Look then at Hebrews 11:7. Notice, “things
not seen as yet.” This was the basis of Noah’s
reaction – verses 8-10. Abraham “went out”
(of a city) to dwell “in tents”, yet he was
“looking for (an eternal) city” – verse 27.
Moses saw “him who is invisible” – verse 13.
These died “having seen” these promises
“afar off.”
I want you now to try and capture the spirit of
this spiritual vision as we look at Numbers
13:12. “Every one a ruler” (R.V. a prince).
These should have been men of vision. Ten saw
giants. Two saw little men. The attitude of
those who saw giants (v 33) was the basis on
which Hebrews 3:19 records “so we see that
they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
We are brought to realize that according to
how we look, so our problems can loom large,
or appear insignificant.
Some of the background to
their journey is seen in
Numbers 11:5,6. Their eyes
were set on what they had
left behind. They were
looking downwards, as well
as backwards, for their
thoughts were on those
fruits which grow in or on
the ground. Compare this
with what God had prom-
ised to them – Deuteronomy
8:8. God wanted them to
look forwards and upwards
towards all that He had
promised. The fruits mentioned here all grow
above the ground. What did Jesus say in Luke
21:28? He could well have had this situation in
mind. “Look up, lift up your heads; for your
redemption draweth nigh.” It is clear that ten
of the spies failed in this. So we want to think
about Numbers 13:23,24. All twelve men had
shared the burden of carrying these samples
of the truth of God’s promise that He would
lead them to a land flowing with milk and
honey. Ten of them learned nothing. Their
eyes were still downwards, wishing for what
had been. Fearful of giants all the way. It is
clear that Joshua and Caleb were looking up.
They were not afraid of “little men”. They
were thinking about the promise of this good
land, about the wonder of God’s promises.
They all took of the (burden) of carrying the
vine’s fruit, but only two of them saw this as
the fruit of the vine. So near and yet so far.
~ continued ...