Pastor Jerry Rockwell
A MAN WITH SPIRITUAL CHARACTER
Joshua 14:6-15
Introduction: You have heard the quote of General Douglas MacArthur who said, “Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away.” He spoke these words to Congress on April 19, 1951. This was part of his farewell address after 52 years of service in the military. He came to the end of a remarkable career. Listen the closing remarks of this great soldier:
I have just left your fighting sons in Korea. They have met all tests there, and I can report to you without reservation that they are splendid in every way. It was my constant effort to preserve them and end this savage conflict honorably and with the least loss of time and a minimum sacrifice of life. Its growing bloodshed has caused me the deepest anguish and anxiety. Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughts and in my prayers always. I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that “old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good Bye. General Douglas MacArthur
In Joshua 14, we encounter another “old soldier,” although he is not quite ready to hang it up and just fade away. He, like Paul, might say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. . .” (2 Tim. 4:6-8), but he would say I am not ready to hang it up just yet. He was not ready to fade away. One thing about Eastland Baptist Church is the older members who have led the way and not given up the fight. They have kept the course and not given up. They have kept the lights on and kept the church ready to serve the community. They have fought the fight. I thank God for all of you who are part of this church, but I am especially thankful for those who have stood by the stuff and said, “We are going to keep the doors open, keep going, and maintain a witness in Orlando.”
Have you ever wondered about the “Special Forces” or “Delta Force” or “Marine Recon” and other elite fighting teams in the different branches of the military, and what keeps them going? I have watched some of the training they endure to be a part of the most effective forces in the military, and it is not a cake walk. You can survey the men who sign up for these forces, and you find men who are 6’ 7” to 5’ 6”, and you discover that it is not size alone that enables one to be a part of these fighting forces, the “Special Operations” fighting men. One of these men said that two things were necessary. You have to take the initiative and be willing to pay the price. In Joshua 14, we encounter a man by the name of Caleb who refused to “fade away” until he had accomplished the final task. He had these two qualities.
Joshua 14:6-15
- Caleb was willing to pay the price, Joshua 14:6-12. Let’s look at these lessons and hopefully discover that everyone here can develop these qualities. We live in a day when there is a stark contrast in society, where character is no longer considered as important as it once was. It is my conviction that believers who possess these two qualities, whether it is on the job site, in the family setting, or somewhere else, will stand out in a significant way from the rest of the multitudes: someone who is willing to pay the price and someone who is willing to take the initiative. Caleb was a man with vision, able to see more than the average person. He and Joshua were the two spies sent by Moses to spy out the land, along with ten others. They went into the Promised Land 40 years earlier. Caleb went into that land, and God helped him see what others did not. He saw a piece of land and asked Moses to give it to him, and it was done. Caleb saw the city of Hebron, which is the place where he and Joshua found the large cluster of grapes that was carried back to the people as a testimony of the bounty of the land (Numbers 13:22-23). This is not some dream Caleb had; it was something he saw, and Moses confirmed. Look at Joshua 14:14. Before Hebron was captured by the Anakims and given the name Kirjath-arba (the word kirjath in Hebrew means “city of,” so the city of Arba), it was a special place. If you study the book of Genesis, you find that Abraham settled in Hebron and was buried there along with his wife, Sarah. His son, Isaac, as well as his grandson, Jacob, were buried there. They all raised their families there. The word “Hebron” is interesting. It means “fellowship.” It has an interesting history which we won’t go in to today. This is what the city became a special place in the lives of the patriarchs as it was a place where they had special communion and fellowship with God. Caleb knew this and wanted the same relationship with God that men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had. For 45 years the passion of this land has driven him. When we see the mountain in this passage it is not the picture of a barrier or problem but the height of his desire.
Let me ask you something. Do you desire something more than just things and shallow relationships? There are people who will die today and tomorrow who will leave behind nothing more than a bunch of stuff and superficial relationships. I cannot answer that question for you. Would you be honest with yourself and ask if there is a passion in your life that is more than gathering more stuff? There needs to be a time in our life when we acknowledge that there is more to life than the things I gather around me. There needs to be a time when we acknowledge that there is more to life than superficial relationships. There must be a time in our life when we must acknowledge there is more to life than we ever considered. A complete generation has died in the desert/wilderness. Most of them died with nothing more than what they could carry with them as they traveled through life to the time when they would die.
This man Caleb stands out from all the rest. He held out for something more. He had desire that was deep in his life. Now pay attention. Vision is more than “wouldn’t it be nice if!” (J. Adams). That is about as far as many people go. That is not a vision it is a desire. It is not a commitment to go to church once in a while when it was convenient. Here was a man who had the testimony that he “wholly followed the Lord.” This was not just the testimony of Caleb about himself. This is said three times in Joshua 14:8, 9, 14, one time by Caleb (verse 8) and one time by Moses (verse 9) and one time by Joshua (verse 14). That is not all that is remarkable. There are a lot of testimonies in the Bible. We often have them. Every Friday we ask if anyone has a testimony of what God has done for them in the past week. Wouldn’t it be something if we had a testimony meeting and suddenly God shows up and says, “Let me give a testimony” and it is about someone in the meeting? Caleb is one of the few men in the Bible who God gives a testimony. Listen to what God said in Numbers 14:24 (KJV) But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. What if God said that about someone in this church had a different spirit, because they have a vision and a passion in them that is not like the others? They have a passion in them which is so much more than, “Well if it does not rain too hard I will think about going to church today. I’ll do God a favor by showing up. I’ll ask Him to bless me so I can go out and make some more money next week.” A lot of people never see further than that in life. An entire generation of Israelites did not see it but Caleb did. There was a passion which burned in him that caused him to follow God when everyone else stayed in their comfort zone. He followed the Lord wholly! That is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:31 (KJV) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. The same phrase is translated in Galatians 4:17-18 (KJV) 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. [Emphasis added.] We use the word “zeal” today. It is a strong word which has the idea of a “burning within.” Let me rephrase the question we asked earlier. “What is your passion?” Or do you have one? Do you know why some people were willing to stay with this little church when it was very low? Do you know why they were willing to keep the lights burning in this little church? Because they got a vision that this church would reach real people who would be changed forever. This is about eternal life and death. We get passion about various things but why not get passion for the things of God? There are things that are a matter of life and death but there are things that are a matter of eternal life and death. We can get passionate about LSU or the New Orleans Saints. We can get passionate about fishing and a boat. Why not get passionate about things that have eternal consequences? When the Saints won the Super Bowl people went crazy and even today have bumper stickers making note of the accomplishment. But tomorrow it will be no different. It has no eternal consequences.
Look at Joshua 14:12 “…give me this mountain…” He is talking about the plot of land he requested of Moses and was awarded the land. If you leave a church and no one misses you, what difference does it make? It is because no one misses you. You never take the initiative to do anything. Here is a man who has been waiting 45 years for this. It has been burning in him, and he says, “Give me this mountain.” Most Christians have a fantasy and never have a vision of what God can and will do. Caleb reminds Joshua of what God had promised him. You say, “Well, no one will let me!” Wait, you have a fantasy. You know Marilyn and I have been waiting for nearly 8 years for something to happen but Brother Landry, Nootsie, Lionel and Sister Loretta have been waiting a lot longer. When I first came here, I said that we would someday see these pews full. Some of you still don’t get it. Do you have a vision? Are you willing to give what it takes to make this church a saving station for the lost who would otherwise spend eternity in hell? Romans 5:2 (KJV) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We cannot do anything on our own. Jesus said in John 15:5 (KJV) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [Emphasis added.] Without Him, we can do nothing, but Romans 5:2 says we “access by faith” His grace. Until we are willing to say this, I will trust God, for by faith we will never see anything happen, especially in our lives. You will never have a vision, just a fantasy. Caleb was willing to pay the price.
- Caleb was willing to “take the initiative, and stand alone, Joshua 14:12. Of all the twelve spies, only Joshua and Caleb followed the Lord’s directives and eventually entered into the land of promise. They were willing to pay the price. We see this in the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJV) 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Look a little past this in 2 Timothy 4:16-18 (KJV) 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [Emphasis added.] Paul was willing to stand alone. That is character!! D. L. Moody said, “Character is what you are in the dark.” Another said, “True character is what we are when no one is looking in the secret chambers of the heart.” Another statement in this vein, “Excellence is caring more than others, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible.” Character, the strength to stand alone when no one else sees it.
Caleb was also willing to face a foe that was formidable and no one else would face. Look at Joshua 14:12 again. The Anakims, these are the people of the giants. Joshua said in Joshua 14:11 (KJV) As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. How do you think Joshua got this way? Eating cheeseburgers and fries every day? Sitting in an overstuffed recliner in front of the TV, wishing something would happen to change them? I don’t think so. He was a man who had the discipline to pay the price. What are you passionate about?
Only you can consecrate yourself to the Lord. He does not lay in the bed and say, well if I felt better and wasn’t so sleepy I would get up and go to church today. Caleb was fit for war at the ripe age of 85. That is incredible. Caleb was not waiting for the undertaker he was ready for the battle. The history books are filled with stories of people who were willing to put their lives on the line for the Lord Jesus Christ. I think of John and Betty Stam who died in China when the Boxer Rebellion intensified. They knew their lives were in danger but they stood and died for the people of China. What is your passion? Psalms 18:29 (KJV) For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. I can do it with God. Paul said in Philippians 4:13 (KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Are you willing to pay the price? Look at Proverbs 22:29 (KJV) Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. How do you get to stand before kings? You have to be willing to pay the price. Several years a preacher published a book which sold over a million copies, A Purpose Driven Life. I don’t agree with the book, but I observe what is going on with one million people. They are looking for a sense of purpose in life. How many of those one million will have the initiative to pay the price and stand alone? Everyone wants purpose and significance. But for most people, that is a fantasy and not a vision. Why will people never find purpose, because they do not have a vision and are not willing to stand alone and pay the price? One other thing Caleb had.
- He had the patience to wait a lifetime, Joshua 14:7-10. Have you ever thought that some of the friends of Caleb would say, “Hey, Caleb, are you still waiting for that land you saw? Why do you wait? It has been a long time. Do you really think you will get that land?” He held on. He had patience to wait a life time. Here he is 45 years later. Many have been born and died but Caleb waited. Caleb, did you know there were giants there? Yes, I know. He waited a lifetime.
We see the young people who are missionaries who come and tell us about a passion they have for the countries they have been called. They have a passion for that country and have a desire to learn a new language and a new culture. Why? They have a passion for what they believe God will do through them. Some have waited a lifetime for this little church to be what it was. I have talked to some of the past pastors recently. There was a day when this church was full of people and vibrant. The giants invaded the pews of this church and tried to destroy its testimony. There were some who had a vision and a passion to see the church alive again. Matthew 6:20-21 (KJV) 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 6:45 (KJV) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Where is your treasure? What is important to you?
Conclusion: To make your vision possible there are only two things you need. You need to be willing to stand alone and willing to pay the price. Where are you today? What is your commitment, consecration, and vision? Are you willing to stand alone and pay the price? Are you willing to wait a lifetime? We get so distracted by small things and lose sight of the “big picture.”