Yes, but not yet!
Author
Faustino de JesĂşs Zamora Vargas
Summary: God's promises should motivate us to continue living in hope, but we need to have faith and trust in God's timing and plans. Even when leaders grow old and are unable to continue leading, the work of the Kingdom continues under the direction of the Lord. We must continue to obey, be loyal, humble, consecrated, sacrificial, and loving towards others. God will fulfill his promises, and we are simply servants and ministers in his work. We have already achieved some goals in Christ, but we must keep dyeing the sky with hope and trust that others will take on our responsibilities and continue the work of advancing the Kingdom.
If the promises of God do not motivate us to continue living in hope, then we have a false concept of faith. The essential thing is to have the conviction of what is expected, to "see" with spiritual eyes what is yet to happen, but in such a state of grace, that there is no doubt that it will come true. Lo What happens (and we are often dismayed) is that the Lord does not always keep His promises according to our expectations. Holding on to God's promises only makes sense if you gird on faith as a spiritual shield (Ephesians 6:16). God does not give us everything he promises at once. As we have seen in previous meditations, he expects from his children obedience to his Word, humiliation, prayer, a passion to feel each day depending on a relationship of mutual love.
Joshua and the army of God's people had laid down 31 kings and their 31 kings in defeat. It seems that the Lord would already bring the desired peace. God ordered Joshua to distribute the conquered land among the tribes; his plans to continue the conquest were different. Also for Josué. Let us remember that the work is not ours, but God's. He is the author and Lord of the work. We, mere instruments of his grace. Old Josué no longer had the vigor of years ago.
When Joshua was old enough, `… the Lord told him:“ You are already very old, and there is still a lot of territory to be conquered ”(Joshua 13.1). The Lord then orders him to distribute the conquered territory among the tribes that carried out the conquest to date (Joshua 13.7). God modified his tactics; now the tribes would settle in their own region and from there they would undertake the continuation of the conquest of all the promised land that had yet to be subdued. Joshua's old age would prevent him from continuing to lead in battle. From now on, the Lord would take the reins of the conquest: "… All these I will drive out from before the children of Israel." (Joshua 13.6). Josué lacks strength because of his old age, but the eternal God has plenty.
It is a hopeful message for the church of Jesus Christ. Leaders grow old, and their forces no longer withstand the rigors of daily and unpostponable battles, but the work continues, the advance of the Kingdom does not stop, the conquests of God's people are realities ... if we let our responsibilities rest under the direction of the Lord . He must rule, he knows the next leader who will continue his work, he has a complete vision of the scope of his purposes, he has already prepared the hearts of those who will serve him in a new stage. Josué will move to another area of the church to continue serving the Lord. Counseling, perhaps, as necessary today as discipleship; to prepare the youngest to learn how to wield the sword of the Word of God in a world that is overflowing with material and "what is seen" to believe.
Not yet. We have not reached the promised land, therefore we will have to continue conquering. God's promise is still promise; There is still more on our part: more obedience, more loyalty, more humiliation, more consecration, more sacrifice and love for others, more relationship with God. Even so, there could be a certain spirit of satisfaction for having humbly fulfilled the part that we had to do. Others will follow. Better than us. It is fatal when the leader is not aware of this and clings to leadership like ivy to the wall, or when the church considers itself sufficient to carry out the conquests that only God can bring about by being the Lord of history and the Lord of the church.
Church, there is still much land to be conquered, but God has promised that he will take care of his work: "I will cast them out ..." (v.1). We are not essential in the work, but servants, ministers, "rowers" of the Galleon of the Lord that patiently navigates the rough seas of the world until it brings us to a safe harbor. God does not delay his promise (2 Peter 3.9) and is patient. We must be too. Others will take our responsibilities. We have already reached some goals in Christ, but we will have to dye the sky the color of hope to see, definitely, with the help of those who come after, the face of our Lord.
God bless your Word!
Suggested Reading: Joshua 13