John said it best in John 1:1-5,
“1 IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
God wants the Church to dwell in the spiritual land of promise, with His Word. The Word was in the beginning. The Word is now. The Word will always be. The Word was settled in heaven. We have no right to question the Word. It is our life. It is our light. If we aren’t careful, we will find ourselves, like the children of Israel, longing for the bondage of Egypt. The devil presents bondage as if it is an escape. Many today have become callused to basic Bible beliefs and have become victims of darkness and cannot comprehend the light. If we sit in a dark room long enough, our eyes will adjust to the dark and eventually we will be able to see in that dark room. Though our eyes may adjust to the dark room, it doesn’t change the fact that we are still in the dark.
We, the Church, must continue to allow Holy Ghost conviction to lead us back to the truth of the matter, the Bible, for this is where it all begins and ends. We, the Church, have heard for years that nothing has changed; everything is still the same. There is some truth to this statement, if we choose to close our eyes to the facts. When we physically close our eyes there is immediate darkness; but when we open them, immediately there is light. Church of God, we must keep our eyes open; we need the light to keep us on track. We need to be able to recognize change for the good, as well as for the bad. Spiritually speaking, this shouldn’t be a problem for the Church anymore, because we can go back to the scripture that says;
“For I am the LORD, I change not…” (Malachi 3:6).
Our former General Overseer Bishop M. A. Tomlinson felt very strongly against those given to change. “The standards and guideposts which governed past generations have been destroyed, leaving our society rootless and confused. The religious elements of our time, instead of providing a stabilizing and steadying influence, have further contributed to the confusion by rejecting many of the very foundations of faith which so long have given meaning and direction to our lives. These advocates of what they call ‘a changing faith to meet the challenge of a changing world’ have succeeded only in destroying trust and confidence in the infallibility of the Word of God. Nevertheless, the Bible still provides for those who believe it a sure anchor, a safe shelter and an unchanging standard in the midst of the constantly altering patterns of modern life. The Apostle Paul once wrote to the young man Timothy concerning those who sought to change the Word to fit the world.
‘Who concerning the truth have erred...and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure...’ (2 Timothy 2:18, 19).
It is comforting and assuring to know that the unchanging doctrines of the Bible are universally applicable even in a changing world.”
We must ever stand on the sure foundation of the Word—that is the land of the Spirit! If you want to know whether you are dwelling in the land of promise, check to see if you are adhering completely to the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word always agree!
“7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:7-13).
Liberty is in the land of promise. Life is in the land of promise. Comfort is in the Word of promise. The foundations of man will always collapse. Now I am not against change, change is good as long as it is not at the expense of the Word. The Church of God should never forget that She is built upon the foundational principles of God’s Holy Word. If we are to reach perfection, it is imperative that we, the Church, dwell in the land of the Spirit. This land is found on the old paths.
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…” (Jeremiah 6:16).
We read in the New Testament,
“3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning” (1 John 2:3-7).
Many today have walked away from the land of the Spirit. They’ve taken another path and perhaps not even realized it. Church of God, we must keep our eyes open and persevere towards the prize of our high calling. If we see that we are longing for the leeks, onions, and garlic, we must find ourselves in an altar of prayer asking God for a renewed love of holiness and righteousness found in His Word. Leeks (lust of the flesh), onions (lust of the eyes), and garlic (pride of life) have no place in the diet of a child of God. Ours should be a diet of manna—that which sustains us spiritually! Go back to the Word.
Now is not the time to let up. Continue in the things which you know are right. Read your Bible. Pray every day. Fast. Do good. Check yourself to make sure you are in the faith. Then, pray some more. Do not think that I am being hard on you, dear child of God. The children of Israel did not have time to rest once they entered the land of promise either. No, they continued to fight the good fight of faith and with every battle came a new victory until they lost sight of commitment to the Lord. Don’t lose sight of your goal. Now is the time to dwell in the Word, the land of the Spirit. Keep the faith!
