THE HERITAGE OF FAITHFULNESS

"The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, 'You know what the Lord promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. ...Now give me this hill country the Lord promised [me] on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.' " (Joshua 14:6, 12 HCSB)

One day will be our last day. It might be this day. If this is our last day, what will we leave behind that lasts beyond our day?

We might leave mementoes of past achievements to be put in a box, gathering dust over time and eventually sold in a yard sale. We could leave money from past earnings to be put in a safe, eroding in value over time through inflation. We may leave memories in photo albums to be stored in a closet, fading colors as time consumes the paper. There is nothing wrong with leaving these things, unless these--or other things of temporal worth--are all we bestow to our heirs. On, the other hand, we can leave a legacy that lasts for eternity--a quality of life that is of incalculable worth--the heritage of faithfulness.

That is what Caleb did. We see him at the age of 85 still standing strong for God. From the moment we first meet him in Scripture, until the final chapter of his life, Caleb is a model of faithfulness. He is a man of faith, hope and love. That is a trinity of timeless qualities that we can pass on to future generations, which will make an indelible mark on history and bring an infinite reward for eternity!

The heritage of faithfulness is built on UNCONQUERABLE FAITH. Some forty years before the events of our text, a valiant young man with a victorious faith had gone in to spy out the Promised Land. Of the twelve who did so, only Caleb and Joshua brought back a favorable report. There were fierce giants to battle and fortified cities to besiege, but fruitful abundance to possess if they would only trust and obey God. Caleb did--and was resolute in that confidence--so that decades later, the old warrior is ready to claim the promises of God!

The heritage of faithfulness is based on UNALTERABLE HOPE. It would be a long time before Caleb would see Canaan again. Many a weary mile would be traveled, as the sun would weather his skin, and the sands of time, whipped by the winds of adversity, would carve furrows in his face. But, he was resolute. In his mind, he could ever see a vision of a land flowing with milk and honey. When he woke with the dawn of another day, he could almost taste the sweetness of Eshcol's vineyard again. He would taste it again! His hope was alterable. Caleb was faithful to press on, because he knew God would be faithful to preserve him. That hope was well-founded!

The heritage of faithfulness is born of UNQUENCHABLE LOVE. The heart of Caleb was steadfast in love for the Lord. His passion went beyond the desire for a piece of property. It was a longing for God. "Therefore, Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he remained loyal to the Lord, the God of Israel". (Joshua 14:14 HCSB) Hebron was the place where Abraham had built an altar and met with God. It was this kind of intimate, love relationship that Caleb wanted above all.

This is the legacy of faith, hope and love--the heritage of faithfulness passed on to his children. Consider these words:

"He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh [the following] portion among the descendants of Judah based on the Lord's instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak). Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir whose name used to be Kiriath-sepher, and Caleb said, 'I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to the one who strikes down and captures Kiriath-sepher.' So Othniel son of Caleb's brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife. When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, 'What do you want?' She replied, 'Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me the springs of water also.' So he gave her the upper and lower springs." (Joshua 15:13-19 HCSB)

Caleb wasn't selfish with his blessings, but shared them. It is our privilege to do the same.

Years ago, a song by Steve Green called, "Find Us Faithful," challenged my heart to be like Caleb, and leave a heritage of faithfulness. I pray that these words will stir you also.

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful