They came out, but they didn't go in
1 Corinthians 10
1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6. Now these things were our examples,
These were church people. These were God's chosen. They were the people whom God led out of Egypt and through the wilderness with signs and wonders like the world has never seen since.
They saw the waters part and they went through. They saw the manna come down from heaven - food provided in a wilderness that could produce no food - and they ate of it and were filled. They drank from the rock that seemed to follow them wherever they went.
These people were called of God - called out of Egypt and into God's Promised Land - but many of them did not please God. They failed after all this.
Hebrews 3
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Jude 1
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
They came out, but they didn't go in.
It's not enough just to come out of sin. You must enter into righteousness.
Do you know the difference between a believer and a Christian? A believer acknowledges Jesus. A Christian follows him. A believer claims to know him. A Christian allows Christ to fill him. It's not so much that we try to imitate Christ, but that we allow Christ to live in and through us.
The Jews in Jesus' day thought that being Jewish was enough. They thought it guaranteed them a place with God. Jesus told them they were wrong.
Matthew 3And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Being a believer doesn't anymore make you a Christian than living in Jerusalem makes you a Jew. You must to more than believe; you must follow.
Now, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. I am not adding any conditions to grace. But true grace will not only save you, it will change you. It will deliver you.
When I accepted Jesus, I didn't have to struggle to be good. I didn't have to try to stop sinning. Something changed deep inside of me. Sin became an undesirable thing. My heart changed and I no longer wanted to displease God. Grace did that. It worked in me and changed me. I didn't have to do anything but cooperated. I had to follow grace. I had to allow grace to work in me and transform me into something else.
This story of the Jews in the wilderness was recorded as an example for us, that we should not follow their bad example.
Now, what were they doing wrong?
They lusted -
V. 6 to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
They followed after evil things - things they knew were not good for them. What is it when believers dabble in pornography, and read the horoscopes; when they chase after 'get rich quick' schemes and chase after worldly things? It is lusting after evil things!
Proverbs 6
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
They were idolaters -
They followed after false Gods. They were swayed easily and had no sense of loyalty. Do you know an untrained dog will follow anyone who offers him food? They don't follow the master - they follow the meat. That's what the Children of Israel were doing, and that's what a lot of believers do.
Jesus rebuked the multitude:
John 6
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
They were fornicators -
Believe it or not, the sexual revolution is no new idea with our generation. People have always had problems in this area. People say, "Oh, but this is the 90's." So what, God hasn't changed. He doesn't upgrade just because we change our ideas. People had problems with sexual promiscuity 3000 years ago. So, what's new? It's still wrong!
Better get control of it before it gets control of you. You can lose out with God over fleshly lusts. They did!
"Oh, but the president does it." That's okay! He answers to the same God you do.
They tested God -
These people were always putting God to the test. God could never satisfy them. They always wanted more. It must really grieve God that we, in our generation, use Him more as a grocery store and a Santa Claus than as a Lord and Master. We're always challenging Him to give us more - to prove himself by our foolish tests and worldly desires.
How refreshing it must be to God when one comes and says, "Lord, I just seek your glory. Have your way, Lord, whether it be fame or obscurity, riches or poverty, ease or struggle."
They complained -
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Boy did they complain! They complained about everything. They complained about the water, about the manna, about the leadership, about the lack of comfort -- grumble, grumble, grumble. Do you know God is not pleased with grumbling.
Numbers 14
11. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
Life could be a whole lot harder. We'd better learn to stop complaining and start being thankful. God might just get tired of all this grumbling and open up the ground again and swallow a few of us up.
This passage is a warning.
Life is no harder now than it was then.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
The things we face in life are common things - common to all. Our attitude is what determines the outcome. Will we please God? Or will we test God?
Hebrews 10
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Don't draw back! Never think that because you said a prayer or you go to church that pleasing God is automatic or guaranteed. You must follow through. You must allow the grace of God to change you - to guide you - to operate in you. Let Christ live in you and shine through.