Trials
In his book Nearing Home,
written when he was 92, Billy Graham starts by saying, “I never thought I would
live to be this old.” He lost his beloved wife, Ruth, when he was 88. They were
best friends and companions for almost 64 years. After his wife passed away, he
struggled. He says, “I still feel as if a part of me has been ripped out, and I
miss her far more than I ever could have imagined.” Like anybody else, Billy
Graham struggled with health issues (ex. Parkinson’s disease), as well as his
grief. In particular, he struggled with finding the purpose of life in his last
years. He said he was forced to deal with the following questions: “What is God’s
purpose for these years, and how can we align our lives with it?” “How can we
not only learn to cope with the fears and struggles and growing limitations we
face but also actually grow stronger inwardly in the midst of these
difficulties?” “How can we face the future with hope instead of despair?”
Then throughout the book, Billy Graham answers these questions. He says, “The best way to meet the challenges of old age is to prepare for them now, before they arrive.”[1] Wherever we are on our journey, now is the right time. Whatever challenges we face, today is the day of salvation.
In today’s scripture Joshua is in trouble. His leader, his mentor, his spiritual father, Moses is dead. All the eyes of the Israelites are on Joshua. War is imminent. But Joshua doesn’t know how to lead these people and navigate next steps. But God revives this despairing Joshua by giving him three instructions.
Arise
First, God says to him, “Arise.” “Moses
My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise” (v. 2a). In Isaiah 60:1 God
says to Israel, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the
LORD rises upon you.” At that time Israel was going through the darkest valley.
They were exiled to Babylon, living without hope, without knowing how long. The
circumstances were not favorable, not encouraging at all. But God said to these
despairing people, “Arise and shine! Awaken from spiritual darkness and let
your light shine before all nations!” What’s the reason? “Because your light
has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (v. 2b). Probably the
Israelites didn’t feel like it. But God said to them, “Now is the time. Arise
and shine!” Probably Joshua didn’t feel like it. But God said to him, “Arise.”
E. Stanley Jones was a Methodist missionary in India for some 50 years. When he was in his 80’s, he had a stroke. The doctors were able to help him in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital but not enough to make him walk. He asked his family to let him go back to India. There in India he said to his fellow Christians, “Now each morning I want you to come into my room before daylight and say to me, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk.’” They did as he asked. Then one day E. Stanley Jones felt a stirring in his body. He took his first step. Then other steps. Near the end of his life E. Stanley Jones wrote a book called, “The Divine Yes.” Until the end, he did rise and shine. Wherever he went, he always preached on the theme, “Jesus is Lord.” What a way to live, what a way to die.
Cross
God’s second instruction is “cross.”
God says to Joshua, “Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and
all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.”
(v. 2) This is God’s promise, God’s vision for his people.
When things get tough and intense, it’s hard to stay focused and live out our calling. In Psalm 13 David almost lost hope in times of trouble. The enemy’s attacks were intense, and God seemed far away. He cried out to God, “How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (vv. 1-2) But then at the end, he said, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” (v. 6) In the dark valley David remembered how God saved him, how God healed him, how God helped him thus far. And he chose to trust God, rejoice in Him, and sing to the Lord – no matter what.
16 years ago I was at the crossroads between school and denomination. At that time several people asked me, “Why do you want to be ordained in the UMC? It’s a sinking ship. Run away from it.” Somehow God gave me a vision for the UM church renewal from within. Since then, almost 16 years have passed. As I was closely following General Conference last week, I almost lost hope in the UMC. I was tempted to leave. I didn’t have strength to carry on. I didn’t see the way forward. But then God reminded me of that vision he had showed me 16 years ago – church renewal from within. “If not now, when. If not me, who.” So I chose to stay. From now on, by God’s grace I choose to be all in for the church renewal. I choose to be all in for making disciples of Christ.
Meditate
“Arise,” “Cross the Jordan,” then
God says to Joshua, “Meditate on the Word day and night (v. 8). In the
ancient Hebrew word, meditation is an active way of internalizing God’s Word –
pondering it, savoring it, chewing on it, taking it deep into our hearts, so
that God’s Word can shape us and transform us from within. The purpose of
meditation is to apply God’s Word to our lives. The Apostle Paul exhorts the
Philippian church to mediate in this way: “Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or
seen in me—put it into practice.” (4:8-9)
Joshua listened very carefully to God’s instruction. He didn’t let the Word be out of mind for a minute. He pondered and meditated on it day and night. He didn’t get off track, but instead, he practiced everything written it. And he lived a fruitful life as God had promised. Before Joshua died at age 110, he gathered his people and said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (24:15). Joshua did not shrink in old age but was prosperous to the end.
T & P
As I close, let me share the story
of D. L. Moody. Many of us tend to think that D.L. Moody would be a spiritual
giant from the beginning. No! Actually, Moody was very discouraged and almost
lost heart in the early days of his faith journey. He was not living a
satisfying life although he tried in many ways: he attended revival tent
meetings and prayer meetings, but his heart became too easily cold and dry. He
said to himself, “Probably, my heart is like the path. That’s why the seed of
the word cannot grow!” But one day he read Romans 10:17. It says, “So faith
comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ.” From that day he made a resolution to meditate on the word of God
before starting the day. Not only did he meditate on the word, but also he
started to obey what he heard.
Moody's Bible still inspires many Christians. His Bible is filled with underlines and T/P signs. Some people asked, "What does T/P mean?" “T” stands for “Tested,” and “P” stands for “proved.” Every single day Moody did “test” what he heard, and it was “proved” as the truth by putting it into practice.
Are you in despair? “Arise.” Are you lost? “Cross the Jordan. Go, make disciples of Christ.” Are you worried and concerned? “Meditate on the Word and practice it. And you will live.”
[1]Billy
Graham, Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well (p. 8).
HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Kindle Edition.
No comments:
Post a Comment