There are people who look at Jesus and feel nothing but questions, questions that echo through late nights and long seasons: Is He real? Does any of this matter? Why should I believe in Someone I cannot see? Doubt can feel like a heavy fog, and for many, Jesus is little more than a distant name softened by centuries of stories.
Then there are those who say they believe… yet feel no pulse in their faith. They know the verses, they understand the doctrines, they sit in the pews, but their hearts remain strangely untouched. Jesus is a belief they agree with, not a Person they know. And that emptiness makes them wonder if they ever truly believed at all.
And finally, some don’t want to believe, not because they are stubborn, but because life has taught them to be cautious with hope. The world has disappointed them too many times. Why trust another promise? Why trust God?
But the irony of Christ interrupts all three stories.
His life was a contradiction to every expectation, God becoming human, strength expressed through humility, victory achieved through sacrifice, rejection answering with love. He did not come to impress scholars or win popularity. He came to reveal a love so persistent, so disarming, so unlike anything the world offers, that even doubters can’t help but take a second look.
This is the irony: The One many struggle to believe in spent His entire life trying to reach the very people who question Him. The One some follow at a distance walked every dusty mile so we could walk closely behind Him. And the One some refuse to believe endured rejection so no one would be rejected by God.
If you’ve ever doubted Him, misunderstood Him, ignored Him, or even walked away from Him, the story of Christ is still for you. Because everything He did, He did to make one truth unmistakably clear:
God still wants you.
If you find this inspiring and enlightening you may share to those whom you think needs this message.
It was a small thing, really. A beautiful Babylonian robe, a few pounds of silver, a wedge of gold. In the smoldering ruins of a conquered city, one man, Achan, saw, coveted, and took them. He buried the treasure deep inside his tent, a secret sin hidden in the heart of the community.
Days later, an elite Israeli strike force was routed by a minor outpost named Ai. Soldiers lay dead. A nation’s confidence, once sky-high, shattered. Their leader, Joshua, lay face down in the dirt, pleading with God. The grand narrative of a promised land had been derailed not by a superior enemy, but by a single, hidden choice.
We often imagine our biggest threats come from outside: a rival company, a hostile ideology, a fortified wall. But the story of Achan reveals a more terrifying truth. The most dangerous enemy is often the one we harbor within our own ranks—the enemy of an unexamined heart.
The Anatomy of a Hidden Fault Line
The problem is not merely individual sin. It is the delusion of compartmentalization, the belief that our private compromises, our secret covetousness, our “harmless” indiscretions, can be walled off from the rest of our lives and communities. Achan’s story systematically dismantles this delusion.
His sin wasn’t a momentary lapse; it was a cascade, a precise inversion of a moral order. The biblical text uses a chilling, cumulative grammar: Israel sinned; they transgressed the covenant; they took what was devoted to destruction; they stole; they deceived; and they placed the contraband among their own goods (Joshua 7:11). This is the blueprint of a moral collapse, moving from a thought to an action to a systemic infection.
The covenant, the binding agreement between the community and God, meant that Achan’s private greed created a public covenantal liability. The entire body was infected by the sickness of one cell. We see this principle everywhere: a single unethical trader can collapse a financial institution; one leader’s hidden corruption can erode trust in an entire government; one parent’s unaddressed trauma can ripple through generations of a family. Your hidden fault line is never just yours.
What is a Covenantal Liability?
A Covenant: A formal, sealed agreement or promise.
Liability: The responsibility of a surety (a guarantor).
Covenantal liability, in this sense, is the enforceable obligation of a person (the surety) who guarantees the performance of another person’s covenant or promise. If the primary party fails to meet their obligation (e.g., fails to pay a debt or appear in court), the surety is “liable on the covenant” and must fulfill it.
Covenantal Liability vs. Contractual Liability:
Contractual Liability is primarily transactional and legal, focused on the exchange of goods, services, or money. Breach leads to financial damages.
Covenantal Liability is deeper, often relational, and can involve moral, spiritual, and communal consequences beyond mere financial compensation.
Covenantal Liability vs. Personal Liability:
Personal Liability is based on one’s own direct actions.
Covenantal Liability can be imputed or transferred based on one’s membership in a group or representation by a head (as in the theological concept).
The God Who Searches the Heart
The investigation that followed was a masterclass in divine justice and grace. God did not simply point a finger. Instead, He initiated a meticulous, narrowing process, from tribe, to clan, to family, to household, to individual (Joshua 7:16-18). This was not a witch hunt; it was a forensic uncovering, designed not only to reveal the guilty but, just as importantly, to clear the innocent.
At the center of this drama is a profound theological claim: “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV). The story posits a universe without true hiding places. The God of the Hebrews is not a distant deity concerned only with public ritual, but a penetrating consciousness aware of our most carefully buried secrets. Joshua’s address to Achan, “My son”, is laden with a tragic compassion that foreshadows a greater Judge who was “never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word” (White, 1898, p. 353), yet who also fearlessly exposed hypocrisy.
From the Valley of Trouble to a Door of Hope
The location of Achan’s sin was forever memorialized as the Valley of Achor, the Valley of Trouble. It was a place of judgment, a monument to failure. Yet, the prophetic vision of Hosea would later transform it: “I will… make the Valley of Achor a door of hope” (Hosea 2:15).
This is the story’s ultimate insight: Our greatest failures can be transformed into our most strategic learning grounds. After the sin was purged, God led Israel back to Ai with a new strategy, one that required humility, dependence, and precise obedience. The very site of their most humiliating defeat became the stage for a resounding victory. The fault line, once exposed, became a foundation.
The Counterargument: Is This Collective Guilt Unjust?
A modern reader might protest: Isn’t it profoundly unfair to punish the many for the sin of one? This is a valid objection from an individualistic, post-Enlightenment worldview. The story challenges us to adopt a more connective, ecological understanding of society. We are not isolated atoms. Achan’s sin was not a private affair because it violated the foundational trust and shared mission of the entire community. His action changed the spiritual and moral reality for everyone. The punishment was not for a thought crime, but for an act that actively sabotaged the collective destiny. The system, to be healthy, had to expel the toxin.
A Call to Excavation: Becoming Archaeologists of Our Own Hearts
So, what do we do with this ancient story? We are all, in a sense, camped on the border of our own promised lands, our potential, our relationships, our careers, our spiritual destinies. And we all have our hidden “Achans.”
For the Individual: Conduct Regular Excavations. We must become curious, not defensive, about our motivations. When you feel a pang of envy (covetousness) at a colleague’s success, don’t just dismiss it. Examine it. What does it reveal about your own fears and desires? This is not about self-flagellation, but about ruthless self-awareness. As Jordan Peterson might say, confront the dragon of chaos within to win its gold.
For the Community: Foster Radical Transparency. In our families, workplaces, and churches, we must create environments where failure can be confessed without immediate annihilation. Joshua’s “my son” is the model. Leaders must balance unwavering standards with profound compassion, understanding that a community’s health depends on its ability to identify and heal its dysfunctions, not just hide them.
For Our Witness: Understand the Stakes. The pagan nations were watching Israel. Their perception of God was shaped by the behavior of His people (Deuteronomy 4:5-9). Today, our neighbors’ perception of truth, justice, and love is often shaped by our collective integrity. Achan’s sin didn’t just hurt him; it damaged the reputation of Yahweh in the world. Our hidden sins do the same. Our obedience, conversely, becomes the most powerful argument for our faith.
The treasure you bury in your tent, the resentment, the greed, the pride, the secret addiction, will not remain hidden. It will shape your destiny and the destiny of those connected to you. The choice is not whether your heart will be searched, but whether you will have the courage to search it first.
Reflection Questions
The Modern “Achan”
Can you think of examples today where one person’s actions affect a whole group, like online, at work, or in families? Do you think this is fair or unfair? Why?
The Archaeology of Desire
Think of a time you really wanted something. How did the desire grow—from noticing it, to wanting it, to convincing yourself it was okay? What fear or belief about God or yourself fed that desire?
From Trouble to Hope
Remember a time when you or your community failed. How did facing the real cause of the problem help open a path to healing and a better future?
The Cascade of Compromise
Think of a past mistake or moral failure. Can you trace the steps from the first temptation to the moment you tried to hide it? When did you ignore your conscience, and what excuse did you make?
Covetousness as Unbelief
The story says that coveting comes from not trusting that God gives what we need. What is something you are tempted to want right now, and what does that desire say about your trust in God’s timing and care?
The Myth of Private Sin
We often think secret sins don’t hurt anyone. What is one area in your life where you are hiding a wrong habit or attitude? How might it affect your family, workplace, or faith community?
On Examining the Heart
The Divine Interrogation
If God narrowed down your life, friend groups, family, and personal choices—to find the main source of spiritual struggle, what would He find? Be specific.
Motivation vs. Action
Are you more focused on fixing your outward behavior, or on addressing the deeper motives behind it? What examples in your life show this?
The Grace of Exposure
Achan had time to confess before he was exposed. Is there a failure or struggle in your life right now that may be God’s warning or opportunity to come clean before things get worse?
On Secret Sin & Its Consequences
The Cost of Your Treasure
Achan buried stolen treasure that ended up costing him everything. What “hidden treasure” (habit, desire, object) are you keeping that is actually damaging your relationships, character, or faith? Is it worth the cost?
The Community Impact Audit
Which of your ongoing, unaddressed behaviors, like constant criticism, laziness, lust, or love of money, hurts the people closest to you the most?
The Idol in the Tent
Achan hid a “beautiful cloak” from a culture Israel was told to avoid. What modern cultural idol, such as status, success, or political identity—have you brought into your life even though it conflicts with God’s kingdom?
References
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version.
White, E. G. (1890). Patriarchs and Prophets. Pacific Press Publishing Association.
White, E. G. (1898). The Desire of Ages. Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Harari, Y. N. (2014). Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Harper.
Harari, Y. N. (2016). Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Harper.
Harari, Y. N. (2018). 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. Spiegel & Grau.
Gladwell, M. (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Little, Brown and Company.
Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company.
Gladwell, M. (2013). David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. Little, Brown and Company.
Peterson, J. B. (1999). Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief. Routledge.
Peterson, J. B. (2018). 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. Random House Canada.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House.
Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books.
This study follows the biblical model of sanctification: the past foundation, the present process, and the future fulfillment.
1. The Foundation: Positional Sanctification (Our Standing)
This is the completed act of being set apart for God, which occurs instantly at the moment of salvation. Our position is secured “in Christ” based on His finished work.
Declared Holy: Believers are immediately called “sanctified” and “saints” (holy ones) because of their union with Christ.
“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
A Past-Tense Reality: Sanctification is listed alongside justification as a completed part of our salvation.
“But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Based on Christ’s Offering: Our holy standing is not based on our efforts but on the “once for all” sacrifice of Jesus.
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
2. The Journey: Progressive Sanctification (Our Walk)
This is the ongoing, lifelong process of becoming in our daily practice what we already are in our position. It is the work of growing in practical holiness and Christlikeness.
God’s Will for Us: Sanctification is not an optional extra; it is God’s stated will for every believer, involving practical purity.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
Insight: “True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God” (White, The Adventist Home).
The Means of Sanctification:
By the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the divine agent who empowers this change, transforming us from within. This is not self-improvement but the implanting of Christ’s nature.
“…God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
“But we all… are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Insight: “The sanctification of the soul by the working of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity” (White, The Desire of Ages).
By the Truth: The Word of God is the primary tool the Spirit uses to transform our character.
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Insight: “The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character” (White, Christ’s Object Lessons).
Our Participation:
Active Pursuit: While God works in us, we are commanded to actively “pursue” and “follow” holiness.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Active Dependence: We participate by “walking in the Spirit,” consciously depending on His power rather than our own.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
The Evidence of Sanctification:
A Lifelong Work: This is not a one-time event but a daily process encompassing our entire being.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Insight: “Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime” (White, The Acts of the Apostles).
Visible Fruit: True sanctification is revealed in our character and conduct—the “fruit of the Spirit.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Insight: “Those who are truly sanctified will not be satisfied with an empty profession. Their lives will reveal the grace of Christ” (White, The Sanctified Life).
3. The Completion: Future Sanctification (Our Hope)
This is the final fulfillment of our sanctification, also known as glorification. It is the moment we are made perfectly and completely like Christ, presented faultless before God.
Made Like Him: The process will be finished when we see Christ at His return.
“Beloved, now we are children of God… we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
Presented Faultless: God’s power will complete the work He began in us.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
The Ultimate Goal: This is the culmination of our journey—the moment the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people.
Insight: “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own” (White, Christ’s Object Lessons).
Questions for Reflection
On Positional Sanctification: How does the truth that I am already “sanctified” and “holy” in my position (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11) change how I view my identity and motivate my fight against sin, compared to feeling I must earn holiness?
On Progressive Sanctification (Means): Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth” (John 17:17). Am I engaging with God’s Word primarily for information (knowledge) or for transformation (holiness)? What is one practical change I can make to allow the Word to be a greater “agency in the transformation of character” in my life?
On Progressive Sanctification (Process): Galatians 5 presents a contrast between “walking in the Spirit” and “fulfilling the lust of the flesh.” In what specific area of my life am I relying on my own self-control and “white-knuckling” it (flesh), instead of actively surrendering and depending on the Holy Spirit’s power to produce His fruit?
Justification means being declared right with God.
It is like receiving a pardon—complete forgiveness.
When someone is justified, God looks at them as if they had never sinned.
Their record in heaven now shows “forgiven” and “righteous.”
Justification is not something we earn. It is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. How justification works
Because of sin, people are separated from God.
We cannot make ourselves righteous by our own efforts or good deeds.
But when we believe in Jesus and accept His sacrifice, God credits us with Christ’s righteousness.
This means:
Our sins are wiped clean.
Christ’s perfect life is placed into our record.
We stand before God clean and accepted.
This is what the Bible means when it says righteousness was “counted,” “reckoned,” or “imputed.”
Imputed – credited to our account as if it were ours.
Reckoned – considered or declared by God as true.
Counted – treated as though we had done right, even though we didn’t earn it.
3. What justification shows about God and us
Justification is God’s work, not man’s achievement.
It shows God’s mercy and grace, not human effort.
It leaves no room for pride.
True faith produces humility and dependence on God, not self-confidence.
As one writer explained, justification “lays the glory of man in the dust.” It reminds us that salvation is completely God’s doing, and we give all glory back to Him.
4. The example of Abraham (Romans 4:1-25)
Paul uses Abraham’s story to show how justification works.
Abraham was not made right with God because of his good works or rituals.
He believed God’s promise, and that faith was counted as righteousness.
Abraham trusted God even when His promise seemed impossible—like having a child in old age.
Paul teaches that everyone who believes like Abraham is justified in the same way, by faith, not by law.
5. Faith in Jesus brings justification today
What happened to Abraham happens to us when we believe in Jesus.
When we put our trust in Christ’s death and resurrection:
Our sins are forgiven.
His righteousness is imputed to us.
We are accepted by God and given peace with Him.
Jesus’ death paid for our sins, and His resurrection guarantees our justification.
6. What justification gives us
Justification brings:
Pardon – our sins are forgiven.
Righteousness imputed – Christ’s perfect life covers us.
Title to heaven – we are accepted as God’s children.
Peace and humility – we depend fully on God, not ourselves.
A new standing – we are seen as pure, innocent, and free from guilt.
7. Summary Justification is God’s declaration that we are forgiven and made righteous through Jesus Christ. It happens by faith, not by works, and is entirely God’s gift rather than our own achievement. This gracious act produces humility, thankfulness, and trust in God, reminding us that our salvation depends on His mercy alone. Through justification, we are made ready to begin a new life of obedience and love, living in harmony with God’s will.
References:
Ellen G. White. Review and Herald, September 16, 1902; August 21, 1888.
Ellen G. White. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1070.
Ellen G. White. Messages to Young People, p. 35.
Ellen G. White. Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 135.
Ellen G. White. Christ’s Object Lessons, Chap. 18.
PREPARED FOR LIFE 