THE BORDER MOUNTAIN BY THE REV. JAMES FLEMING

EXPOSITION

THE BORDER MOUNTAIN

BY THE REV. JAMES FLEMING

"Ye have compassed this mountain long enough"

THIS was the mountain of the Amorites, which skirted the Land of Promise on the south, and which the people of Israel reached in the second year of their journeyings to the inheritance of Canaan. But here they halted, and in consequence of the report of the spies refused to advance, and passed the next thirty-eight years of their history in traversing the regions round about. They came within sight of the Land, but instead of going up and taking possession of it, as God had commanded, failed for the reason given to enter it. They got to the very line which divided it from the wilderness traversed, but having more regard to the difficulties to be surmounted than to the sufficiency of God to make them more than conquerors in capturing cities and vanquishing armies, refused to cross it, and spent the long years which followed in wanderings and disappointments instead of in the enjoyment of the abundance and rest which Canaan had for them.

But now, as it was with the people of Israel of old, so it is with multitudes of the children of God still: they pass their days on the borders of the land of promised blessing, and know by report only the extent of its fruitfulness and wealth. They may no longer bear the burdens which formerly afflicted them, and toil in the brickfields of a degrading and profitless service, but have not got beyond the wilderness condition of a spiritual experience, are without the quietness which comes of righteousness, and are strangers to the privilege of fellowship with the Father and with the Son; they know and trust Christ as a Justifier, but not as a Sanctifier, and the Appeaser of all spiritual cravings. They have the faith which puts Him between them and the consequences of sin in perdition, but not the faith which enthrones Him in the heart, takes Him for everything, and makes Him their " Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption."

In obedience to the command of God, and by the help of His Spirit, they left in their regeneration the land of captivity and death, and followed His guidance as far as the mountain of forgiveness and security, but not into the land, he had made over to them,—" a land flowing with milk and honey," "of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of oil, olive and honey, a land in which there is bread without scarceness, and no lack; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass."

Is it so, dear reader, with you… 

·       Are you passing your days on the border of the land of blessing, instead of in its actual and conscious possession?

·       Then you are not where your Lord intends, or what He requires. His desire is to see you in the land, not in the wilderness, in the possession of what He has provided for you and not simply in the attitude of those who see the promises afar off; "delivered from the hands of your enemies, and serving Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of your life," and not repeating "the provocation " by your unbelief and disobedience.

You know the purpose for which He interposed on your behalf, and took your place in judgment and death, "that He might redeem you from all iniquity and purify you unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works "; that " He might deliver you from this present evil world;" and "that, being dead to sin, ye should live unto righteousness ;" that, partaking of His resurrection life, " renewed in the spirit of your mind," and dwelt in by the Holy Ghost, ye should be conformed to His likeness, "be holy and without blemish, " and "filled with all the fullness of God."

There is a sense in which, so long as we are in the world, we are in the wilderness; for whilst here we must travel, watch against enemies, and depend upon Divine guidance and protection. But though this is one aspect of the position of the believer, it is not the only one. "In another he is to be regarded as already in the Promised Land, 'blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ'—the land where we may win constant victories, and, while fighting, yet know what 'rest in the Lord' means. And it is this which is the normal and proper position of every Christian. If he has to pass through the wilderness he need not be forty years about it. Eleven days was the necessary time, according to Deut. 1: 2; and the long years of failure, disappointment, and backsliding are attributable to unbelief alone. They are not necessary; they may be avoided. Nay, they ought to be avoided, for the apostle, after bringing before us the fearful consequences of doubt in the case of the Israelites, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness, says, 'Let us labour (literally hasten, i.e., not be forty years about it, instead of eleven days), to enter into that rest, lest any man fall, after the same example of unbelief.' Israel's failure is recorded for our warning, and not for our imitation; to be avoided, not copied."

The will of the Lord with regard to you, dear reader, then, is, that you go up and possess the land; that you appropriate Christ in His entireness, and enter into the fullness of the blessings that are in Him for you. It grieves Him to see you spending your days in compassing "the border mountain," satisfied with a hunch of grapes from the Valley of Eshcol, and looking at the promises from a distance. Then receive Christ as commanded, and as you receive Him, retain Him, and walk in Him; and with a full Christ you will find yourselves in possession of the plenitude of the Spirit, of power for service, and "the peace of God which passeth all understanding." You will henceforth lead a life of victory and progress, instead of failure and defeat. "The joy of the Lord will be your strength," and the beauties of holiness your adornment. Sanctified and strengthened by the indwelling Spirit, Christ will occupy the temple so prepared for Him, and you thereby rooted and grounded in love, ye will be able to "comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God."

But thus possessed and endowed with Divine power, you will rise to the higher levels of the Christian life, walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly, and exhibit the likeness of Jesus. Quietness and assurance will be your strength, the rest of faith your experience, and "the life more abundant" your enjoyment. The border mountain will be left behind, and the land, in realized promise and inexhaustible wealth, be possessed.