The Holiest of All By Andrew Murray

"
"
MO
ftbe Doliest of Bit
God commanded them to go up and possess the land, they
gave way to fear. They believed not God s promise, and were
disobedient. Unbelief is ever the cause of disobedience ; they
could not enter in because of unbelief and disobedience.
The story has a deep spiritual significance, and teaches a
lesson of great solemnity.
In our chapter we have twice heard
already that it is not enough to begin well we must hold fast
;
unto the end. Of the people of Israel we read By faith they
kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood ; by faith
they passed through the Red Sea." There was the initial faith
to go up out of Egypt. But when they were tested to see if
they would hold fast the beginning of their confidence firm
unto the end, the great majority failed. Their faith was but
for a time :
they had faith to leave Egypt ; they had not faith
to enter Canaan.
Among
the same state.
the Hebrews there were Christians who were in
They had begun well, but had been hindered.
Some were standing
still ;
some had already turned back. And
even so there are many
Christians in our churches who never
come farther than the initial faith of conversion. They say they
know God has saved them from Egypt. They rest content with
the thought of having been converted. There is no hearty
desire, no earnest purpose to press on to a life of holiness, no
readiness at any sacrifice to go up into the promised land of rest
and of victory.
When Israel was about to enter the land of Canaan, Moses
used the words : He brought us out from thence, that He migJit
bring us in to give
are
us the land." It is to be feared that there
many Christians who put asunder what God hath joined
together. They would fain be brought out from the land of
bondage ; they are not ready to go all the length with God, to