Deuteronomy 1:28 "Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there."
We need to choose how much time and attention we give the news on TV, radio, internet or any other source. By nature, the world disproportionally reports more "bad" news than "good" news. According to what we hear, we might think that this world is the worst it's ever been!
In Numbers 13, God sent out twelve soldiers to spy out the promised land, and see for themselves the abundance and prosperity that awaited them. As proof, in verse 23 it says that they cut down a cluster of grapes that was so big it took two men to carry. Glory to God! They returned from the promised land after forty days to "report" on what they witnessed. They said in verse 27, "Surely it flows with milk and honey, this is the fruit". In other words, the land was full of good things to enjoy.
But then, in verse 28, TSN (the Ten Spies Network) added to the report from their perspective, "Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there." TSN gave every reason why they couldn't possess the promised land. They focused on all that was wrong, on every obstacle, every challenge, and they concluded this doesn't look easy.
That's the same report we are hearing today..."The earth is falling apart", "the economy stinks", " we're all going to lose our jobs", "the world is in a terrible place". But there were two other spies that saw the same thing as the other 10 men saw, but reported differently. In Numbers 13:30, Caleb said four things that that contradicted the TSN report:
"Lets go up at once".
We can do this! Let's go right now! Don't delay! It's waiting for us!
"And possess it".
Take it! It's finished! Done! Healing, health, prosperity, just take it
"We are well able".
We can handle these situations! It's not as big as you think!
"To overcome it".
Caleb didn't deny that there would be things to overcome, but in the new covenant of grace it's already overcome for us!
You are more than a conqueror through the finished work of the cross. Which would you rather give your time and attention to, TSN or the almost-too-good-to-be-true news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ?