“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down”.
(Hebrews 11:30)
We do not have to take a city, but a much heavier burden lies on our shoulders. We have to overcome our sins. All sins! If the Lord would come again at this very moment, He should find us in conflict with all sin. And the means by which we can overcome sin is faith. John wrote: “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
But alas, says a child of God, I suffer defeat so many times. It is really my intention to cleave unto the Lord, but I do not always succeed. It is written: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13). Do not give up hope, fight and keep fighting! At last you will see what gain the fight of faith will bring. It is said of the triumphant Church, that they have overcome by the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11). It is faith that takes hold of this blood.
It did not seem very likely that by going around the city (of Jericho), they would take it, but still they made use of these means. We also have to do that. It does not seem as if a printed Word as we have in front of us here, will enable us to behold God, who is indeed invisible to all people, and as if such perception will cause us to search for Him, denying ourselves. Do not allow yourself to be held back by appearances. It did not seem very likely that Naäman by washing himself in the river Jordan would be healed, and yet he was healed by these means. You see it in the life of the eunuch: the Word brought it about. It did not take place as long as the eunuch alone seized the Word. But while the eunuch seized the Word, the Holy Spirit came and seized the Word also, and then it happened.
We are bound to the means and you must let yourself bind to the means.
(From: Meditations, 17 February. Sermon on Hebrews 11:30, 26 July 1950 in The Hague.)