We had our first lectures at the King’s Lodge over the past two days. Rosa Kalta taught about “Being a People Who Finish the Race.” After beginning with Hebrews 12:1-13, Philippians 3:12-16, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, and 2 Timothy 4:7-8, she gave us 3 qualities that we must allow God to give us to finish the race: (1) self-denial; (2) wholeheartedness; and (3) perseverance.
I want to focus first on wholeheartedness because this particularly spoke to me this morning. In Numbers 14:24 it says of Caleb this: “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” Building on this, Rose noted that Caleb evidenced his wholeheartedness in seven different areas of his life (and you can see these in Numbers 13-14 and in Joshua 14-15).
First, Caleb saw things differently. Numbers 13:26-33; 14:6-9. Check out this quote: “Caleb magnified God’s promises and minimized the problems of life.” When ten of the spies saw giants in the land, Caleb simply saw God’s promise. He knew the Israelites could take the land because God had promised it to them. He didn’t see a hard land; he saw a land of milk and honey ready to become his home. Unfortunately, the others didn’t follow God with their whole hearts and they saw it differently.
Second, Caleb spoke differently. Joshua 14:5-9. He spoke well of God and others. We must be people who speak the truth in love about God and His promises as well as about others. While ten of the spies failed to do this and caused all of the people’s hearts to melt (our tongues wield so much power), Caleb consistently spoke well of God and others. Oh that we would be Ephesians 4:29 people!
Third, Caleb denied himself. Joshua 14:10-12. He refused to be controlled by the negatives of life. You never see bitterness in him about the forty years he had to wait on God’s promises to be fulfilled because of the sin of others. But ten couldn’t see past the giants to enter into the promises of God. They feared (or respected) more the loss of their physical lives than they feared (or respected) God.
Fourth, Caleb valued things differently. Joshua 14:12. Caleb desired and grasped for the things of God and what God had for him. He didn’t shy away from his inheritance. Neither should we take lightly what God has for us. In fact, we need to pray constantly that God would help us love what He loves with our whole hearts!
Fifth, Caleb fought for things passionately and wholeheartedly. Joshua 14:11-14. He was not passive. He was, again check out this quote, “more impressed with the power of God than the sin of the world or any past he may have had.” We must be the same.
Sixth, Caleb’s wholeheartedness inspired others. Joshua 15:13-17 and Judges 3:7-11 tell a fantastic story about Caleb’s heritage. Caleb challenged those around him by offering his daughter in marriage to the man who could capture a city. So, Othniel, his nephew, stood and took the city. As it turns out, Othniel went on to become a great judge of the people of Israel. Of Othniel we learn that he was Israel’s deliverer, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and that the land had peace for 40 years under his leadership.
Seventh, Caleb’s wholeheartedness led to personal blessing to the point where it overflowed to others. See Joshua 15:18-19 and the story we just discussed with Othniel. Caleb not only blessed Othniel, but he also blessed his daughter with choice land. His descendants after him enjoyed the fruits of Caleb’s life.
We must not be people of divided hearts. We cannot be. A divided heart will lead to our destruction. In 1 Kings 11 we see that Solomon’s heart became divided and the result was as follows: “The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. . . . So the LORD said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.'” 1 Kings 11:9-11. If that can happen to the most wise man who ever walked on the face of this earth, it can surely happen to each of us. Bode that historical warning well.
Here are a few thoughts to take away from this: (1) Ask God what keeps you from running the race well, and as He reveals things to you, lay them aside. Galatians 5:7-8; Hebrews 12:1-2. (2) Ask God what He expects of you. (3) Ask God to help you love what He loves! (4) Ask God to forgive you of any critical or comparative spirit you may have in you and to help you become an encourager, someone who speaks well of others and of God. (5) Beg God to help you to focus your eyes on Jesus and to give your whole heart to Him all the days of your life.
This is exciting stuff here at the King’s Lodge! Press on!!!