Sometimes the obstacles in front of us feel insurmountable. The raging rapids of the river echoes laughter at our inaction as we stand on the banks. And yet, as we look at the those hellish waves that threaten to tear us to ribbons, we swallow the knot that rests in our throats. We close our eyes and hear the reverberations of a command “go make disciples”, but our eyes are locked on the raging river.

The Jordan was not a shallow river. It was flood season and this river was over ten feet deep and very, very wide. Joshua had commanded the priests to carry the ark and walk into the river. God commanded that the people line up and cross with the priests carrying the ark going over first. He told them that the priests were to walk into the river and God would make a way for their crossing. I often wonder what I would have done if I was one of the priests of God carrying the ark into the Jordan. I wonder what that first step would feel like, stepping from the bank onto the waters. I often wonder if the priests felt the splash of water before the waters receded. Were they surprised as the water stopped flowing across and flow upwards like a heap.

The scriptures continue to say that the priests walked to the middle of the river and stood there while the rest of the people passed to the other side of the expanse. Past the expanse into the land that God had called them to. The relationship between faith and obedience here is something that we would be remised to miss. God’s call of obedience on the people of Israel to cross the Jordan and go into the land that He had for them to conquer took not only a step of obedience to go and do, but a step of faith that God was going to provide a way.

We are not crossing a physical Jordan today, but we are crossing a spiritual chasm. We live in a dark world that is desperate for the hope that only the Gospel brings. And Christ commands us to go and be the light in such a dark and dying world. To make disciples. It’s a command to go into the land. And it not only requires our obedience of going and doing, but it requires a step of faith that God is going to provide the inroads and opportunities to go and do as He has commanded. How many moments do we miss in discipleship and evangelism because our eyes are locked on the raging river rather than stepping out in faith and obedience? Do we truly believe that Christ has not only called us to the great commission, but also that He will provide the inroads to go and accomplish?

We are entering into a new land in our day and age. One that is trembling in the wake of anxiety and unease. The tensions are high and tumultuous. And we have the remedy. Will we enter the land? Will we walk in faith knowing that God is providing and opening doors to accomplish His will?