Joshua 14:11–12
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
It’s Not Over Yet!
Caleb is my favourite Old Testament Bible character. He has the attitude I want to have as I enter my golden years.
You have come this far in the book, but this is not the end. I am 67, and, God willing, I may still have many years ahead of me — perhaps even grandchildren to guide along the path. One never knows what God has in store.
I have a bucket list of things I would like to do and see, but all these plans rest with the Lord. Above all, I want to serve Him and one day hear His words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
I want to be like Caleb, always striving to go higher, further, and deeper. I also want to be like Barnabas, encouraging others to go higher, further, and deeper with God.
I am reminded of a 400-metre race. Some runners burst ahead for the first 300 metres but fade as they approach the finish line. Often, it is those who were behind who surge forward to win. It is not how you start, but how you finish. I pray that I finish well.
So onward and upward — this is not the final chapter. There are many more yet to be written.
Devotional Thought
We all fear death. It is like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, yet it is a daily reality for thousands around the world.
People fear it and prepare for it as best they can, but nothing we do can truly prepare us for it.
Preparation must come through Someone who has defeated death — and that One is Jesus Christ.
Because of what Christ did for me on the cross and through His resurrection, I can say, like the Apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 15:55–57
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:6–8
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day — and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
One day I will stand before Him. What will I say in the light of the blinding majesty of God’s presence? I will plead the blood of Christ.
In Exodus 12, the Israelites were passed over because of the blood on the doorposts. When the Lord sees the blood, He will pass over you.
The human heart is spiritually dark, but it can be made clean through faith in the finished work of Christ.
Over two and a half thousand years ago, while God’s people were at their lowest point, He gave this promise:
Ezekiel 36:25–27
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Everyone who comes to God in repentance and faith receives a new heart, a new nature, and will spend eternity with God. Those who refuse will face the consequences. Hell is a real place, where there is no mercy, no grace, and no love.
As I close for now, I plead with you: if you have not trusted Christ, do it today. One day it will be too late.