You have spent your entire life in poverty. Your family has always had just enough for everyone. You have heard people speak of a great land, promising beauty and prosperity. However, you won’t get there for 40 years. Impatience causing you to give up hope. Forty years is too long to wait; at least that’s what you think. What if this land is just a fable? What is this land doesn’t live up to the hype? Don’t get your hope up only to be disappointed again. Poverty is all you have ever known, poverty is what you will always have.
Then, it happened when you least expected! You obeyed God, trusted in His ways and you entered this land. God gave you this entire land from your enemies. When the walls of Jericho collapsed before your eyes, Joshua ordered you to search the city, slaughtering anyone still alive, then burn their possessions. As you were exploring your designated section of the city, you stumble across gold, silver and a beautiful robe, likely imported from Babylon. Your commander was clear: leave everything you find so it can be burned. Yet, you begin to rationalize your discovery in your mind. Taking these items won’t hurt anyone? God won’t care if I save one robe and some money? Temptation draws you closer. You reach out to touch each item, look around before grabbing all 3. However, there is a catch. What do you do with them? Do you hide them in a safe location where the fire won’t destroy them? Wanting not to waste a perfectly good robe, you give in, hiding the robe, gold and silver under your tent.
Sin has you, but you can’t see it. Your life is about to end, but you can’t feel it. Suddenly, your deed is brought to the surface after a baffling defeat. Troops begin to search each of the 12 tribes, clans and families. Guilt and shame consume your body. Soon you will be discovered. It’s only a matter of time. Embarrassed, tears begin to stream down your face. You have disgraced your family, friends and the nation of Israel. Why couldn’t you have resisted the temptation instead of being sucked into sin? Now you are as good as dead, separating from God forever.
“What do you have to say to yourself,” says the soldiers who confront Achan. With no choice now, Achan confesses this sin. Unfortunately, this mindless deed is costly. This selfish sinful act will cost you and your entire family their lives. I can hear the words of Achan coming from his grave, “if you are flirting with sin, turn back to God. Don’t let sin consume you! Before you make a move, expose your deeds of darkness before its too late. Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you will be saved from sin. Avoid the destiny, death and embarrassment which I face. Please learn from my mistake. Repent, turning away from your sins by turning back toward God. Do it now!”
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 