Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Numbers 33:1
As the Israelites were getting closer to going across the Jordan River into Canaan, God had Moses write down the stages of the journey. Over the forty years of traveling in the desert, the Israelites had journeyed through many different locations and experienced many different situations.
Physical life is a journey that begins at birth and ends when a person dies. Every person experiences this journey. The length of that journey is different for every person. Each one will live in different locations, eat different foods, work different jobs, experience different friends, and experience different situations.
Out of all the people some will add in a new journey that is not physical. This is a spiritual journey that comes from salvation in Jesus. This journey starts at different points for every person, but never comes to an end, going on for all eternity. Some start it at a very young age, while others start it at a much older age.
You have started this journey at some point in your life, when you gave your life over to Jesus. The locations on this journey are not physical. It is the changes you have made in your heart and life.
When you first started believing Jesus, you may not have given up all of the sins in your life. You most likely did not even know that some of what you were doing was sinful. As you grow and mature in Jesus, you learn to live more like Jesus every day.
Your heart begins to change. At different stages you learn different things, such as learning to forgive more, or love more, or hearing God’s voice, or being more of a witness. Each of these are different stages of the journey you are on until God calls you to step into eternity with Him in physical death.
Remember these stages of the journey. It helps you see where you have come from and keeps focus of where you are going. It will strengthen and encourage you.
I pray today that God will reveal to you the path He has for you; that you will remember what God has brought you through; that God will encourage and strengthen you for your journey; and that one day you will step into heaven for all eternity with God.
Thanks Tom, I needed this reminder today. It’s so easy to forget where the Lord has brought us from. Sometimes it seems all I can see is how far I still have to go. But it’s true, by his help we do make progress – and looking back at that can help us in the journey ahead! God bless.
You are welcome. I know I have to remind myself many times of where I was to see where I am, not just how far short I still am.