22
A Friend In The Fight
Jon Burgess“Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions...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...Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.” Joshua 14:6-7, 11, 13
Joshua and Caleb. The only two men who came back with a good report and believed God would give them the Promised land. The only two men from their generation who were able to see this Promise come to pass. Now 45 years later and we see these two men together again. They are both still friends through all the victories and losses, the births and the deaths. They are both still in the fight and not quitting until they see the fullness of Gods promise fulfilled. The fact that they are still fighting the good fight is directly connected to the longevity of their friendship in the fight.
I listened carefully to Pastor Wayne on Sunday night as he talked to a group of leaders. He spoke of Uncle Dan Shima who has been with him from the beginning of this church plant called New Hope Oahu over 20 years ago. He spoke of how God has used him and others who love him enough to call him on his stuff if he begins to go sideways. He made it clear that he is still in the fight and has not been disqualified because of the friends God has put around him. Like Pastor Wayne and Uncle Dan, like Caleb and Joshua, I want to have that kind of longevity. I want to be able to say many years from now that I'm in still in the fight because I'm still in friendship with certain ones God has put around me. These friends have the fire when others are a wet blanket to God's vision. These friends have loyalty to the Lord above loyalty to what's popular, trendy or easy. These friends don't just see the problems they see the solutions. In fact, like Caleb, they see bigger problems as a greater chance for God to show Himself strong on our behalf. These friends aren't afraid to get in my grill when I'm going off track. These friends are raising up an army in the next generation rather then trying to do it all themselves. They are in the trenches with me and they inspire me to keep fighting the good fight of faith!
Thank You Lord for the friends You have put in my life that keep me in the fight. Some are near me here In Hawaii and some are back on the mainland, but all these friends have kept me in the fight. I pray that I would guard these relationships and not allow the enemy to have a foothold, not allow the love to grow cold. I need them. They need me. We need you. This is how You have set it up to work for the long haul until You return to take us home to our Promised Land.
