The 10/2 Paradigm

Day 66

Today’s Reading: Deut. 1-3, Mark 10:32-52

Today’s Reflection: Deut. 1:28 Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

The latest news is not always the greatest news! Let us remember that The Lord had already promised a complete victory, and yet because of the lack of spiritual discipline to REMEMBER what GOD had already spoken, and the faith to trust His word, these men allowed their very own brethren to discourage their hearts. Question: who are YOU going to listen to? God, or the brethren? Oh, don’t get me wrong…the brethren aren’t always wrong. BUT, when they’re wrong, they ARE wrong! I see two fundamental mistakes that the people made in this verse. First, they were listening to what the brethren were saying over what God was saying, and second, they were listening to what the brethren were SEEING. God’s Word should have been ALL-SUFFICIENT. We live by faith, not by sight (see 2 Cor. 5:7). However, at this point I would also like to remind you that, among the 10 doubting spies who brought back an evil report, were 2 faith-filled men (Caleb and Joshua) who didn’t see things the same way the others did. I’d like to call this the 10/2 paradigm. 10 were walking by sight, while 2 were walking by faith. 10 were full of fear, while 2 were full of courage. 10 saw the giants, while 2 saw the grapes. All 12 saw the same things with the natural eye, but only 2 saw clearly with the eye of faith. What side of the paradigm do you find yourself? Are you with the 10, or with the 2? Need I go through the Bible to build a case to prove that in most cases, the majority opinion, though collectively decisive, were also collectively wrong? I suppose I’ll pass this time, but I would encourage you to do your own homework and see if you don’t come to the same conclusion that I do. Namely, that just as Jesus stated, few there be that find the way which leads unto life (see Matt. 7:14). In other words, just because the majority of the brethren agree on something, does not necessarily mean it to be based on actual truth. It could be that they have fallen on the wrong side of the 10/2 paradigm. If Christ were to come to you and inspect your life to determine whether you were living by faith or by sight, which side would He find you on? The answer to this question alone will determine whether or not you will ever experience the victorious “Canaan Land” experience readily available to all who decide to follow God rather than the brotherhood.





          

copyright © by Gary D. Caudill