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| The Dolomites |
'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith' 2 Tim 4:7
Caleb was a man that could truly claim that he had fought the good fight and finished the race. He was one of two spies that Moses sent to recce the promised land across the Jordan who came back with a positive and optimistic analysis of the terrain and enemy. The other spy with the same analysis was Joshua. Ten other spies brought back negative and depressing news that obstacles before them could not be surmounted. In Joshua 14:7-8 Caleb recalled, "I brought him (Moses) back a report according to my convictions but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.
So at age 85 years, just as the the Israelites were dividing the conquered territories of Canaan amongst the tribes, Caleb staked his claim, "Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me." Joshua 14:12
Caleb in Hebrew means 'faithful, devoted, whole hearted, bold, brave'. True to his name, Caleb was a remarkable man, resolute and tenacious. Dr Alan Redpath who wrote Victorious Christian Living, Studies in the Book of Joshua (Ref 1) described Caleb's legacy as
- A Faith that never wavered
- A Strength that never weakened
Caleb left an example for all who are living out the Christian life for many years. Our faith should not grow dim even as our eye sights may be failing us. Dr Redpath hoped that "the faith which is ours in youth may be undimmed in old age, that the vision of the Lord shall be clearer as we grow older, that when life's journey is almost done we shall not be content merely to survey the past but be ready and eager still for battles with the enemy".
Alan Redpath hit the nail on the head when surveying the challenges of the older and grey-haired Christians. Many of us who had retired from our lifelong employments think also that we can retire from our Christian duties and service. We feel that we have done enough and now it is time to sit back and relax and allow the younger Christians to take up the cudgel. Nothing can be more threatening to our continuing faith if we take a backseat, trying to rest upon the laurels of past service as though we can now cash in on our past investments.
When we become Christians we have a perspective of eternity which has no place for retirements. Harry Blamires wrote, 'A prime mark of the Christian mind is that it cultivates the eternal perspective. It looks beyond this life to another one'. (Ref 2)
Caleb at a ripe old age said, "So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then" Joshua 14:10-11.
Most Christians do not live like Caleb who was wholehearted in his faith and steadfastly resolute to defend it. Bishop Solomon told the story that when the Irish tribes were baptised, their warriors raised their right hands above the baptismal waters, the hands that wielded their swords. The Bishop commented that they were willing to give up certain parts of their lives but hold back other parts from God (Ref 3). Most Christians are like that, half-hearted sacrifice and half hearted surrender. Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, now known as OMF said, "Christ is either Lord of all or is not Lord at all".
Where are the Calebs today? In 1874, Frances Havergal wrote a familiar hymn, 'Take My Life'.
Frances enacted her lyrics, a line of which says "Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold." In 1878, four years after writing the hymn, Miss Havergal wrote a friend, "Take my silver and my gold" now means shipping off all my ornaments to the Church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me...Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don't think I ever packed a box with such pleasure."
- Take my life and let it beConsecrated, Lord, to Thee.Take my moments and my days,Let them flow in endless praise.
- Take my hands and let them moveAt the impulse of Thy love.Take my feet and let them beSwift and beautiful for Thee.
- Take my voice and let me sing,Always, only for my King.Take my lips and let them beFilled with messages from Thee.
- Take my silver and my gold,Not a mite would I withhold.Take my intellect and useEvery pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
- Take my will and make it Thine,It shall be no longer mine.Take my heart, it is Thine own,It shall be Thy royal throne.
- Take my love, my Lord, I pourAt Thy feet its treasure store.Take myself and I will beEver, only, all for Thee.
This is a hymn of total surrender, a hymn of consecration, a hymn for the Calebs of today
Lionel
Ref 1: Alan Redpath. Victorious Christian Living, Fleming H. Revel, Baker Book House Company 1955.
Ref 2: Harry Blamires. The Christian Mind, SPCK, 1963
Ref 3: Robert Solomon. Growing Old Gracefully, Following Jesus to the End, Discovery House, 2019
Ref 2: Harry Blamires. The Christian Mind, SPCK, 1963
Ref 3: Robert Solomon. Growing Old Gracefully, Following Jesus to the End, Discovery House, 2019
