The Place of Crossing
Dear Saints,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
As we journey together in faith, it is important to remember the significance of the places God has chosen for us to cross from one season to another, from one blessing to the next. Just as the Israelites had their "Place of Crossing," so do we have our appointed places where God calls us to step out in faith and trust in His promises.
In the Old Testament, we read about the Israelites' journey into the Promised Land. After years of wandering in the wilderness, their moment of crossing came at the Jordan River. In Joshua 3:15-17, it is written:
"As soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away... So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground."
This miraculous event marked a significant transition for the Israelites from a time of wandering to a time of possessing their inheritance. Their obedience and faith in God's instruction led them to the right place at the right time, where He performed wonders among them.
Similarly, John the Baptist baptized in a place called Bethabara, beyond the Jordan. As John 1:28 states:
"These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing."
This site holds a special place in the narrative of our faith. It was here that people came to repent and prepare the way for the Lord. It was here that Jesus Himself was baptized, marking the beginning of His public ministry.
Dear Saints, just as the Israelites had their Jordan River and just as John the Baptist had his Bethabara, we too have our places of crossing. These are the moments and places in our lives where God calls us to step out in faith, to leave behind the old and embrace the new.
Consider Moses, who stood on Mount Nebo, overlooking the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 34:1-4, we read:
"Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land... Then the Lord said to him, 'This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.'"
Moses saw the promise, even though he did not enter it. This teaches us that sometimes we see the vision of what God has for us, and our role is to prepare the way for others to step into their promises.
Our "Place of Crossing" may not always be easy to recognize, but it is where God has designated for us to move forward. It requires faith, obedience, and the courage to trust in God's timing and provision. It is where we leave behind our fears, doubts, and past failures to step into His promises.
As we stand on the brink of our own Jordan Rivers, let us remember these scriptures and be encouraged. Let us be willing to follow where God leads, confident that He has already prepared the way. May we trust in His faithfulness, knowing that He will lead us through our "Place of Crossing" into the fullness of His promises.
In faith and unity, let us move forward, knowing that our God goes before us, just as He did with the Israelites. Let us embrace our crossings with hearts full of hope and eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Blessings in Christ,
Pst. JK. Woodall, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor, Revival Center Hesperia
