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No Expiration Date
Jon Burgess10“Now, as you can see, theLordhas kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.11I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.12So give me the hill country that theLordpromised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if theLordis with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as theLordsaid.” Joshua 14:10-12
Caleb makes it clear that the healthiest way to live to live is according to the promises of God. Besides Joshua, he was the only one still alive from his generation of those that had been delivered from Egypt. He was just hobbling through the Promised Land leaning on a cane either. No, his vitality had not decreased and his vision had only increased. Forget all those pills and diet plans and grab ahold of the promises of God. Caleb knew he had no expiration date becausethe promises of God have no expiration date. Until the promise was fulfilled he knew he wasn't going to die. A giant enemy could never overshadow a giant promise of God. The tactical disadvantage of attacking those hiding in the hills could never overcome the tactical advantage of having the God who owns those hills fighting for him. God's word was more real to Caleb then any challenge before him. How did Caleb not lose heart over 45 years of waiting? His heart stayed fixed on the promises of God rather than the failures of people or future problems.
Caleb's life story makes a clear connection between spiritual health and physical and mental vitality. Over 45 years of waiting instead of growing cold and old he grew bold as he chose to hold tothe Promises of God. Scripture is replete with examples of how the health of body, soul, and spirit are directly connected to the promises of God:
“I will never forget your commandments, for you have used them to restore my joy andhealth.”Psalms 119: 93 (NLT)
“A peaceful heart leads to ahealthybody; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.”Proverbs 14:30 (NLT)
Don’t be impressed with your all wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you’ll gain renewedhealthand vitality.Proverbs 3:7-8 (NLT)
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy goodhealthand that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”3 John 1:2 (NIV)
There have been countless times when I have been meaning to use a coupon at the store only to find that it expired by the time I presented it at the cash register. Though we go through milk like water at my house sometimes a carton will be hidden in the back of the ice box and will be discovered too late. No one wants to drink expired milk. Sometimes a grocery store will have a "clearance rack" for soon-to-be-expired items from the shelf. We live in a world of expiration dates. Sometimes, the covenant promise between a man and a woman on their wedding day becomes nothing more than a hollow reminder of a love that expired long ago and promises that were never kept. We live in a culture that lives in fear of their own personal expiration date and therefore spends more than ever to extend their stay here on this earth. Yet, according to a recent Bloomberg report, Americans are dying younger despite spending more than any other country on the planet for health care.
Maybe we should join the Caleb Health Care Plan? We can get better rather than bitter by pursuing the promises of God rather than the passions of the flesh. Caleb had every reason to live in resentment and frustration, but he chose to focus on the future instead of the failures of his friends. There was no expiration date on his health because there was no expiration date on his hope in God's promise to give him the hill country. When we focus on what God has said rather then what others did we will find a vitality and vigor to fight battles everyone else would rather avoid. What have you been waiting for? Don't buy into the lie that it can't come to pass because it has been too long. Our God who began in a good work in you is faithful to complete it!
There are so many things that are happening around me that seek to bring a sickness to my body and a sorrow to the soul. This morning I rise up with the confidence of a man who is following a plan that is bigger than me. True faith doesn't ignore the giants and the hills but rather takes it head on through the filter of faith rather than fear. When I focus on Your promises rather than my limitations or the failures of those around me I receive a renewed vision for the battle ahead. Give me the patience and perspective I need to see Your promises come to pass in my life no matter how long it takes.
