THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
I have been reading Exodus and Joshua in preparation for the next sermon series. What great books. The one BIG point I have discovered in that text is. . . If you’re going to follow God’s calling on your life, you’ve got to believe it’s never, never too late.
After Moses sent the 12 spies into the Promised Land, they returned and reported that the land was too hard a place for God’s people to settle. Because of their unbelief, God had the nation wander around in the desert for an-other 40 years, and an entire generation died because they did not believe in God’s promises. But Caleb and Joshua believed, and they got to live.
When the Israelites returned to the Promised Land 40 years later, Caleb was 85 years old and living his second chance. He said, “Now here I am, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the LORD promised me that day long ago” Joshua 14:10b-12a.
“Give me the mountain country.” I love that! The land Caleb wanted was full of giants and cities fortified with great walls. He was saying to God, “Give me the biggest assignment. Give me the hardest city. Give me the place with the biggest giants. Give me the mountain regions. I don’t want some easy place. I know I’m 85 years old, but I’ve still got it in me to do great things for you.”
My friends we are living longer than in previous generations. There are many reasons for that . . . good health care, we have taken better care of ourselves and we continue to work longer. Do you realize the card stores now have an entire section that offers birthday cards for the 80th, 85th, 90th, 95th, and even 100th birthday! Growing up, I did-n’t see those kinds of cards. But they’re out there now because everybody lives longer. When my dad was born, the average age of an American man was 76. That life expectation has gone up at least 12 years in his lifetime. My Grandfather and my father both lived into their 90’s. I was amazed last Sunday evening at the block party how great our older members were serving and playing with the community.
Some of you think it’s time to hang it up. I’m telling you it’s time to get it down and dust it off! Do you think God’s going to let you live 30 more years just to play golf?
Here’s a word that’s not in the Bible: retirement. You may stop working, but you keep serving the Lord. You have more wisdom and experience now, and God is not going to waste that.
At the age of 85, Caleb began the greatest mission of his life. Moses was 80 when God called him to set God’s peo-ple free. Abraham was 79 when he received God’s call.
If you are in the Caleb generation, you have to believe that it’s never too late to start on your life calling. The best is yet to come! God is planning a revival at Crescent and Tennessee! Let’s get ready for it!
Pastor Mark