RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

At the age of 110, Joshua closed his eyes and entered the presence of God. He had been a faithful soldier in God’s kingdom for a long time. As a young man he walked close to the great man of God, Moses. He watched. He learned. Then he received the reins of leadership and became God’s man for his generation.
Before he died, he imparted the keys to the many victories he had experienced. He encouraged the people to remember the great things God had done. He said, “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed” (Joshua 23:6,7,14).
Some years ago, I faced one of the greatest opportunities and also the greatest struggles of my life. I was preparing to preach in the world’s largest stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I felt so inadequate. I asked friends to pray for me. One of my friends sent me an e-mail that was greatly encouraging. He reminded me of all the things God had done in the past and how faithful He had been. He then encouraged me to “forge ahead by looking back.” My friend’s counsel was straight from heaven. It was exactly what I needed for the moment. God proved Himself faithful one more time in Rio de Janeiro.
The counsel my friend gave me was almost identical to what Joshua gave the children of Israel before he died. Joshua told them to “forge ahead by looking back.” He reminded them of the great things God had done. He reminded them of their responsibilities to the kingdom.
Joshua made several key points. First he encouraged the children of Israel to be courageous. He said, “Be very strong.” Joshua had dealt with fear in his own life. He knew that champions in God’s kingdom were not cowards, but were ordinary men and women who were courageous. They would need to live by faith rather than fear. There’s no room for cowards among champions.
Second, he encouraged them to be careful. He said, “Be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law.” Obedience to the Word of God was the biggest challenge facing God’s people. It always has been, and always will be. God is looking for humble, holy men and women who have positioned their lives in obedience to the Word of God. Those become the true victors in the kingdom of God.
The third word of encouragement oshua left with God’s people was to be committed. One of the greatest dangers they would face was compromise. The language of the devil is compromise, but the language of Zion is commitment. Joshua told them, “Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods…” God uses men and women He can trust to follow Him wholeheartedly.
Finally, Joshua reminded the people of God’s faithfulness. He encouraged them to be confident. He said, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled.” That was the bottom line. Great is God’s faithfulness. The greatest reminder we need is the faithfulness of God. True champions know His faithfulness.