War against the remnants

Joshua 3:1 Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.

I was saved at the age of thirty four and there were many issues that God has freed me from. Even after my salvation and being freed from the bondage of the mastery of sin in various areas, the evidence of those sins still remained in my life. One of the biggest was financial debt. Years of partying, gambling, and fulfilling the things I lusted after left me and my wife in a terrible financial position. Struggling under the burden of debt can squeeze the life out of you. Credit card bills, a first and second mortgage, and two car notes loomed large in our lives.

I often wondered why He just would not remove the remnants and evidence of my mistakes. After all, I knew Him and His truths and had learned my lessons. So why couldn't he just magically fix everything? I was fighting to strive towards Him and so I guess I was wanting some sort of re-do. Well, God knows that he has to work in our salvation by having us work through the battles of the flesh. I can attest to the majesty and power of God in the area of finances. He has shown Himself mightily once I not only knew what to do, but actually was obedient to His word. Money was once ours to satisfy our desires. Now it is God’s to accomplish His purposes. The battle scars of the struggle to learn this key truth are firmly entrenched in our minds. His word and grace has been transcribed into the linings of our hearts. It will not be forgotten.

When you look at the passage in Judges 2 &3 that is exactly what God does to the nation of Israel. Their disobedience produced consequences and the generation that was living had not been tested by war, desert wanderings or a manna only menu. They were soft and God knew that the remnant that was their enemy would actually be a great asset to building their faith as they learned to wage war against the remnant of their own sin. To appreciate God, His Promises and blessings, war against their own sin was going to be a necessity for the Israelites.

As a Christian, this should hit home with all of us. God has set us free and made us into a new creation (2 cor. 5:17), yet even then he leaves the remnants of the old sin nature in our hearts,minds and souls to wage war against. This is not some huge mistake he made. Just like with the Israelites, it is to keep us attentive to His Holiness and our depravity. Just like the Sabbath, fasting, Passover, the Lord’s supper, baptism, testimonies and every other ordinance and sacrament, God uses the remnant of our sin nature to drive us toward Him on our Knees in need. It’s called victory, only in Jesus! Paul speaks to this clearly in Romans 8:13 “ for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if you live by the spirit you will put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” He charges us to make war! Abide in Christ and allow His the power in the Cross and blood to wage war on your flesh and you will live is Paul’s point.

Whether you know it or not, you are in a war. Your thoughts, actions and passion are shaping who you are at the core of your soul. Its either praise for Jesus and a war against sin,or a gradual slouching towards the depravity of sin itself. As God examines your heart from above right now, which side does he see you on?