God Reflection: Faith Certainties
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what de do not see. Hebrews 11:1
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army marched around them for seven days. Hebrews 11:30
Were it possible to go back in time and witness some of God’s dramatic miracles, the implosion of the grand walls of Jericho would be on my Bible Times Top Ten Bucket List.
What a picture—as the nation of Israel follows God in unison. For seven days, they moved together as one.
On day seven they marched around the walls of the city seven times. What they seemed to know for sure was the instruction anytime, “you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priest carrying it, you are . . . to follow.” (Joshua 3:3)
We aren’t told if they were aware of the exact nature of the drama to take place on day seven. Someway God would provide victory over the people of the city for they marched by faith.
Once again I live thousands of years down the history line from Jericho. Is there a story for me in the Jericho march?
I like the image of God’s people moving together in unison. As they marched they trusted God for the outcome. By faith they marched.
What about me? I’ve been called to march by faith with His church.
I am not a lone warrior called to fight with everyone who holds an opinion that differs from mine.
God hasn’t called me to set everyone right as I see rightness.
God hasn’t called me to divide His church and to define who is in and who is out. I have a greater mission than to get to heaven. I want to learn to march in unity.
It is to my detriment and to the detriment of others that I sometimes see the church of Jesus as a narrow path with lone strugglers in an uphill battle to sneak under a space in heaven’s door. That idea is a holdover more from revivalist preaching over three hundred years ago rather than an idea found in Scripture.
My end state will not be to stand face to face in judgement and be shamed by the God of the universe.
I don’t have to fear His review of my life.
The truth is I have enough accumulative sin over seven decades to fill volumes of books. My Adamic self has committed far too many mistakes. I have come up short far too many times and in incalculable ways failed to treat others as I would have them treat me—not to mention the fact that I never totally and completely treated anyone as God, Spirit, and Son have treated me.
I will get a pass. I will not be judged.
The good news is I will enter the new earth with the saved of all ages as a family member of Jesus.
Yes, Jesus saves his church one person at a time as individuals joyously submit to him as savior. He adds each one to his great body of children from every corner of the globe.
He must bubble with expectation in anticipation of presenting us as a whole—his family of brothers and sisters—to Father God.
We march together as redeemed children.
One of my own “aha” moments was when I began to see that the church will not be judged because of all the implications that flow from the cross.
Within the church I am safe and saved.
There are passages like Isaiah sixty-two that speak of the joy God has in us.
In the company of the Son heaven God will declare, as a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. Pass through, pass through the gates!
The gates of the new Jerusalem are wide open for God’s people. It will give Him joy to hear His Son say “These are Yours.”
The Apostle Paul paints the picture of the world’s judgment and heaven’s gate. As he enters the new city, Jesus the head is followed by the body as he presents to God his church (1 Corinthians 15:21-24). It is if the Son will say to the Father, “Don’t worry about these. All of them 
together are cleansed. They are mine. They are my sisters and brothers.”
I can’t close without the description of the end times by the Hebrew writer. As the Savior Jesus presents himself to the Father he is accompanied by the church he loves. Then he addresses God, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” For, both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2).
Like those who encircle Jericho as one body we too march as one in step and in unity, yes, and in faith with our elder brother Jesus the head I boldly march with his entire church toward eternity.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on By Faith We March
God Reflection 
YES, loved this——–thanks, my bro!!!!!!!Lynn
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