This is the group that makes the decision to go no further with God. They have come to a certain place and they have found it to be very comfortable. The place they have come to is the crossing that God puts in all His children's lives, and that is to live a separated, serving, sacrificing life. We find that in this text the place is called the "Jordan River."
The message comes from this group not wanting to cross the Jordan River to where God had brought them out to bring them in. In Numbers 32:14, Moses gives us a description of this people when he calls them "sinful men." We have blasted all kinds of sin that has come into our churches, such as: liquor, sex, drugs, pants on women, earrings on men, etc., and we are losing the battle against them. Could it be that we are not looking at the enemy, but rather the results of the enemy. The real enemy is the place from which the sins are coming. The Bible says that when these people desired to stay on the Border and not cross over they became "sinful men."
Every church has these people on their rolls, the only difference is, in the past they were the minority. But, now this number has increased, till we are possibly 50/50 and in some works they may even outnumber the fundamental, separated people. The evidence is seen in the history of the Methodists, Presbyterians, Southern Baptists and, yes, even the Independent Baptists that have dropped their standard on the KJV, on proper clothes, on reverent music, and on Godly worship. These decisions have come from the pressure put on pastors by this group that decided to stay on the border of the Jordan River, i.e. "The Borderlanders."
Therefore, this decision has caused a distraction for those in our churches that are seeking to be obedient to God's command and cross over into the Promised Land, "The Spiritual Life." Because of this departure of heart, which is the love of the world more than the things of God, the desires of their heart is seen by the path our churches have taken or are being pressured to take in these last days. This departure has brought great danger into our churches. Because these "Borderlanders" want all that comes from living on the Canaan side of Jordan without crossing over to the separated, spiritual life.
Just an example of this is seen in Joshua 22:11, where we find these "Borderlanders" building themselves an altar next to their side of Jordan. We know that true worship was found where the altar of God was and that was in Canaan Land, the place where God had commanded for them all to go. Yes, there is a great danger for our churches in these last days, and sad to say that danger might be sitting next to you every Sunday. God Help Us to Cross Over.
Pastor Thomas Holbrooks, Jr
Pilgrim Baptist Church, Gaffney, NC. Tomresa@juno.com