Land Dwellers

For Friday, July 1, 2005
Proverbs 10:30

The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

"The land" is the Israelites' inheritance in the Promised Land. No other possession was dearer to an Israelite than his land, and the whole land of Israel was identified with the kingdom of God. Thus, the righteous will never be removed from the kingdom of God, but the wicked will not dwell in that kingdom.

Peter tells believers: "According to God's great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5). That is a fuller way of saying, "The righteous will never be removed." Jesus puts it this way: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

Christ, who has clothed us in his righteousness, will keep his promise. God, who has elected us and caused us to be born again to a living hope, will not let that hope be thwarted. We will not be moved because our stronghold is Jesus Christ, the Way of the Lord.