Adventures in the Far West | Page 2

For forty years these rebels
wandered in the wilderness, until all were dead except Caleb and
Joshua, the two faithful spies.
There is a beautiful analogy between the events of the Israelites in their
journey out of Egypt into Canaan and the fundamental experiences of
the Christian. Note these parallels--far too close not to have been
planned as type and antitype by the great Author of salvation:
1. Abraham was promised two things: first, his seed should inherit the
land of Canaan; second, in him should all families of the earth be
blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
2. Abraham was the father of both a literal and a spiritual seed, the first
inherited literal Canaan and the second inherited spiritual Canaan
(Romans 4; Galatians 4).
3. There was a rest promised both to the Israelite and to the Christian
believer (Hebrews 4).
4. Israel was in bondage to Pharaoh and his taskmasters in Egypt, and
sinners are in bondage to the devil and sin.
5. By a miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, Israel escaped from
Egyptian bondage; and sinners are saved by the miraculous new birth.
6. By another miracle of power, Israel entered Canaan through the bed
of the Jordan River; and by a second work of grace, believers are
wholly sanctified by the Spirit through the blood.
7. By refusing to believe and obey, the Israelites wandered for forty
years in the wilderness, just as Christians fall away, grow lukewarm
and backslidden many times when they see their privilege of being

made pure in heart and refuse to walk in the light.
8. After the Israelites entered Canaan, they had to fight for their
possessions; and so, too, do we have to fight for our spiritual
possession in the state of holiness.
9. The literal land of Canaan was a good land, "flowing with milk and
honey," where the Israelites ate the old corn and wine of the land. Just
so spiritual Canaan is the best place of grace under heaven; indeed it is
heaven's border-land, where saints have sweet communion with God
and Christ and are ready for the great crowning-day.
In several chapters of this book we shall treat the subject of entire
sanctification allegorically, using the types as prefiguring Christian
experience. The battles of the soul against foes are real conflicts, which
leave their scars and marks on many a Christian. Perhaps, out of the
experiences of others, the reader will gather something of profit to
himself, and be enabled to fight more effectively and not merely beat
the air. There are spiritual powers in high places that challenge us to
battle; blessed is he who has the armor, the courage, and the skill to
win.

CHAPTER ONE
GETTING READY TO ENTER CANAAN
Can you tell me, please, the first step to take in obtaining the
experience of entire sanctification? I have heard much about it, have
heard many sermons on it, too; but the way to proceed is not yet plain
to me, not so plain as I wish it were. Can't you tell me the first step, the
second, third, and all the rest? My heart feels a hunger that seems
unappeased, I have a longing that is unsatisfied; surely it is a deeper
work I need! And so I plead, "Tell me the way."
* * * * *

Gladly will the endeavor be made to point out the way into the "holiest"
of all (Hebrews 10:19). Probably the very first thing to know is that you
must understand whether or not you are sanctified. Are you, or are you
not? On which side of the Jordan are you, on the Canaan side or on the
wilderness side? A definite answer to this question is essential.
Sometimes there are doubts in your mind whether you are or are not
sanctified. Well, let us first get rid of all doubts. The experiences of
God in the soul are too definite to need their possession entertained
with a doubt; and to know where we are spiritually is unquestionably
our privilege.
If you find yourself on the wilderness side of Jordan, the next thing to
find out is whether you are yet out of Egypt--whether you are justified
before God, whether your sins are all washed away and you are a child
of God.
If you are sure you are justified now, but have not by faith entered the
Canaan experience--are not wholly sanctified--then you may know for
certain that the experience awaits you.
Then there is one more very essential thing--you must believe with all
your heart that sanctification is unquestionably an experience which the
Bible holds out to all believers. Do you thus believe? If so, all is clear,
and all you need to do is to go forward; or, in the words God used