In Isaiah 48: 18 are the striking words, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river…”
Now, one great feature of a river is that it never stops, it always goes on and on until it empties itself into the mighty ocean. It is even so in the Christian life, it must be a constant going on, going forward, going over (or through). When the river comes against any hindrance along its course, it either rises above it or goes around it.
Go on … go on … is the only motto for the child of God.
Have you on the Lord believed? Still there’s more to follow; Of His grace have you received? Still there’s more to follow.
GO FORWARD
The children of Israel found themselves in a seemingly impossible situation with the Red Sea in front, the armies of Pharaoh behind, and no means of escape on either side, so they gave way to murmuring and complaint. But God is always the God of the impossible, and His word to Moses was, ” … Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Exodus 14:15).
Whenever God says, ” … go forward”, He intends us to go through- any and every obstacle- with Him. He always goes before His people.
GO OVER
This time God’s command was to Joshua. God’s set purpose for His people was not only to bring them out of Egypt, but also Canaan, so now He commands His servant Joshua, ” … arise, go over this Jordan … ” (Joshua 1:2).
Note the precious promises which accompanied this command. ” … as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1 :5); and ” … for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1 :9). So they went through with God.
GO ON
Here, it is the apostle Paul who speaks, “…let us go on unto perfection … ” (Hebrews 6:1). There was no standing still in the life of this Christian warrior. Writing to the Philippians, he says, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 12). Then follow the significant words, ” … forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 13-14 ).
Paul’s great ambition was ” … that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3 :8), and for this it meant a continual “going on.”
The Apostle John says, ” … it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
So then, let our motto ever be, “Go Forward- Go Over- Go On” with God.