A Note from Pastor Don
"You have become old, advanced in age, but a great deal of the land remains to be possessed." Joshua 13:1 (ESV)
As we grow older, we often look back and appreciate our good memories. We also need to consider whether we have accomplished God's goals for our lives. For most of us, there is much more that we can and should accomplish for the Lord. Joshua had led the people of Israel through multiple battles, and most of them were successful. As Joshua became old, he could look back at a life well lived. He had been God's leader to bring the people of Israel into the promised land. He then divided the land so the tribes of Israel could establish their homes. Joshua lived in the center of the land of Israel, where he lived in peace and was no longer troubled by the enemies of Israel. Yet God had a different perspective, "a great deal of the land remains to be possessed" or "conquered" as stated in other translations. The Lord was telling Joshua, though you are old there is still much to do. Many of us, if not all of us, need this reminder. As we grow in maturity as believers it is easy to sense that we deserve our rest. But let me challenge you, if you have not trained another person to serve in the ways you serve and if you are not actively making disciples, then there is still much to do. Should you ignore Jesus' instructions to make disciples and you rest in the process of expanding God's kingdom, then inevitably the enemies of our faith will advance. As our enemies advance, we will likely lose what we have accomplished as believers.
We recently celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Most people do not question whether these two events happened in history, but for many people, including believers, the power of both the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit are lacking. Le me stir you up to love and good works (Heb. 10:24).
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.
(Taken from the poem of C.T. Studd)
Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past - by C.T. Studd (1860 - 1931) ยป Reasons for Hope* Jesus (reasonsforhopejesus.com)
