Coming Full Circle – Sort Of ∙∙

Coming Full Circle – Sort Of ∙∙

I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it. – Deuteronomy 34:4

Hebrews 11:9-10

And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith – for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

Hebrews 11:13-16

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Great Promises Offer Great Hope

Within months of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, American forces in the Philippines faced defeat and captivity. It was a dark and dismal time. On March 11, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur boarded a PT boat under the cover of darkness, escaping a Japanese blockade to reach Australia. Before leaving, he made a confident and resolute promise: “I shall return.”

MacArthur kept his promise. Two and a half years later, in October 1944, American forces landed in Leyte, and the final victory over the Japanese-occupied Philippines was achieved at the Battle of Manila on March 3, 1945.

Promise made; promise kept

The Power of Promises

The Father has given us great and precious promises. Some of these promises will be fulfilled in this life, while others are reserved for eternity. Great promises inspire great hope. As children of the King, we are called to learn, believe, and rely on the Father’s promises. It is our choice to keep striving toward their fulfillment, trusting in His perfect timing.

As the apostle Peter explains in 2 Peter 1:4: “Because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

What we seek and aspire to is often more meaningful than where we ultimately arrive. The promises of God are not just about results but about the transformation and hope they bring into our lives. They remind us of His divine nature and His ability to guide us through the challenges of this world.

The Pain of Unfulfilled Longing

Unfulfilled longing creates a fragile and painful emotional openness. It can manifest as a deep ache that is difficult to articulate, a place where dreams die, and hope seems to evaporate. In these moments, we are left unsatisfied, yearning for more. Yet, this longing can serve as a catalyst for transformation and a reaffirmation of our faith.

The Father uses these seasons to take His children through an extraordinary process often referred to as the “death of a vision.” When hopes and dreams are lost, coping can be incredibly difficult. Letting go is never easy, but it is through this process that the Father prepares us for what lies ahead.

Lessons in the Death of a Vision

The Father teaches us valuable lessons through the heartbreak of experiences He allows us to face. These lessons are often impossible to learn any other way. How we react to these challenging moments is vital. When we recognize and acknowledge His sovereign will and place our trust in His care, something remarkable happens. We unlock a deeper understanding of His purpose. This shift in perspective prompts us to reflect, fostering a deeper connection with our faith. We learn to ask, “What would You have Your servant do?”

The death of one vision often leads to the beginning of another. Sometimes it is a revival of the same vision, reimagined in a deeper, more meaningful way. Bill Gothard, in his Basic Youth Conflicts seminars, pointed out that throughout the Bible, God often requires visions to die before they can truly come to pass. The stories of people like Moses and Joseph demonstrate this pattern; both faced the death of their dreams before seeing them fulfilled. This reflects the divine method used with every child of the King.

 REFLECT & PRAY

“The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing to reach the Mountain, to find the place where all beauty came from” (C. S. Lewis).

Father, there was a time when I had no hope at all. For a while, I had hope, but it faded, leaving me feeling empty and melancholic. However, through faith, You entered my life. That was exactly where You wanted me to be. You desired my confidence to rest in Who You are, so I could find the fulfillment that only You can provide.

INSIGHT

The Journey to the Promised Land: A Story of Faith and Fulfillment

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites reached the promised land that represented the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams. However, they hesitated and did not follow the Father’s guidance. As a result of their doubt and disobedience, the first generation of Israelites aged twenty and older died in the wilderness, except for Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. As Numbers 32:11-12 explains,

“Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly.

The only exceptions are Caleb, son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua, son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the LORD.”

The first generation of Israelites did not enter the Promised Land. In contrast, the subsequent generation, having been prepared by God, returned ready to obey, seize their inheritance, and take possession of it.

From Chaos to Fulfillment

The journey through the wilderness started in chaos, characterized by immoral behavior and the worship of the golden calf. Yet, it ultimately fulfilled the promise of the conquest of the Promised Land. During their wanderings, they were prepared to realize the Father’s promise. Although the route was somewhat circuitous, they were eventually guided to the promised land.

The transition from rebellion to readiness, coming full circle, is a central theme of redemption and transformation. It illustrates the Father’s commitment and ability to equip His people to carry out their assignments effectively.

The Cost of Unbelief and Disobedience

In Hebrews 2-4, unbelief and disobedience are closely intertwined. These chapters, often called the “Cemetery Chapters” of the New Testament, recount the tragic consequences of the Israelites’ lack of faith. As F. B. Meyer observed, “It is a repeated burden of those sad chapters of Hebrews, which tell the story of the wilderness wanderings . . . ‘they could not enter in because of unbelief.’ Because disobedience and unbelief are the two sides of the same coin, a coin of the devil’s mintage. They who disobey do not believe, and they who do not believe disobey.”

The Israelites’ struggle to trust and obey God underscores the profound spiritual repercussions of unbelief. This poignant lesson resonates down through the generations, reminding us of the importance of maintaining steadfast faith and commitment to obedience.

Moses: A Leader’s Legacy

Moses, the esteemed leader of the Israelites, was granted the privilege of seeing the Promised Land but was ultimately denied entry. This exclusion resulted from his impulsive actions at Kadesh, as noted in Numbers 20. Some may question whether this punishment was too harsh. Alexander Maclaren asserts, “Any offense of Moses cannot be a small offense,” emphasizing the great responsibility that comes with his leadership role. With great privilege comes equally significant accountability.

While the Father offers forgiveness for sin, Wiersbe notes that “God, in His government, allows our sins to work out their sad collateral damage in our lives.” Moses’ life vividly illustrates this truth; although he was forgiven, he still had to face the consequences of his choices.

Moses did not die of old age; instead, he remained strong and vigorous until his death, which occurred at the Father’s command after he completed his divine purpose. His life, spanning 120 years and comprising three distinct phases, was complete and meaningful. His passing marked the end of one era and the start of another, as the Father appointed Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land.

The Death of a Vision: A New Beginning

Many children of the King experience the death of their vision, a point at which their dreams and aspirations seem to fade, leaving a sense of hopelessness. However, this experience does not mark the end of their journey; instead, it signals the start of a new chapter. It is not the beginning of the end; it is the end of the beginning. The Father uses these critical moments to prepare His children for what lies ahead, shaping them for greater purposes.

Standing on the Father’s Promises

Every child of the King receives promises from the Father. We are called to stand firm, fully convinced that what the Father has promised, He will indeed fulfill (Romans 4:21). Like Abraham, who died having seen some but not all of the Father’s promises fulfilled, we too live in hopeful anticipation. The Father will fulfill all His promises, but the greatest of them await the life to come.

As Stanley reminds us, the Father’s faithfulness is unwavering. His promises are sure, and His plans are flawless. We are called to trust in Him, knowing that He will bring His promises to completion in His perfect time.

This longing, though painful, serves as a reminder of the hope and fulfillment that only the Father can provide. It is through faith that we accept His gracious gift of redemption and enter into a deep, personal bond with Him. In this bond, we find the strength to endure, the courage to hope, and the assurance that His promises will never fail.

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© Dr. H 2025