An Epitaph Of A Faithful Servant
Joshua 24:29-31
An "Epitaph" is a short statement intended to honor a person who has passed away. When we think of an epitaph we usually think of those phrases that are etched on someone's tombstone.
- A young man named Michael Luther was addicted to arcade games. When he passed away in 2007 his sister designed his headstone and it read "Game Over".
- Merv Griffin's (the famous talk show host from yesteryear) has a tombstone that reads "I will not be right back after this message".
- John Newton, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, has an epitaph on his tombstone that shares his testimony: JOHN NEWTON, Once an Infidel and Libertine, A servant of slaves in Africa , Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, Preserved, restored, pardoned, And appointed to preach the Faith He had long laboured to destroy,
- The Apostle Paul's shared his own personal epitaph in - 2 Timothy 4:7 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.
What would your family say about you when you are gone? When someone dies it quickly becomes apparent where their priorities were when they were alive. Mourners will gather around and talk about how much he loved to hunt, fish or who his favorite team was. The same is true when a lady passes away. Folks will talk about her smile, sense of humor, love for her family and so on. There is nothing wrong with these things. But for the Christian, Jesus should have place in the conversation as well.
Your life ought to point people to Christ And if you live your life for Christ, your legacy will point others to faith in Jesus as well! I may not leave my family with many material goods, but I hope to leave them with the assurance that though I may be absent from the body, I AM PRESENT WITH THE LORD.
Our lives ought to be marked by our faith in Christ. When this is true, our testimony even after our time on earth is through. This is the kind of life that Joshua lived. Our selected text serves as his epitaph. I would like to briefly examine his life and consider the thought "An Epitaph Of A Faithful Servant". Let's begin by examining:
I. Joshua's Remarkable Life - v29 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
- Joshua is one of the most noteworthy characters in the Word of God. He truly lived a remarkable life. Notice that:
A. He Was Chosen By The Lord
Joshua was Moses' second in command. When Moses died, God raised Joshua up to lead His people. - Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister
Moses' death was no shock to God. He knew that a successor would be needed. Of all of the multitudes of people, God personally selected Joshua. I believe that God had a plan for Joshua before he was ever born. As is the case for your and I. God had a plan for us long before we were ever conceived. Remember what God told Jeremiah "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations". (Jeremiah 1:5)
- Not only was Joshua chosen by God...
B. He Was Commissioned By The Lord
Joshua was commissioned or "sent out" to serve the Lord. God told Joshua where to go, what to do, and how to do it. - Joshua 1:2 (GOd said to Joshua) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
Not only did God instruct Joshua, He encouraged him. God made it clear that He would be with him and that He was in control. Our Heavenly Father has done the same for us. He has called us and He has commissioned us. God has called us unto salvation and He has commissioned us for service. There is a universal work that all of God's children are to be apart of. (That is the fulfillment of the Great Commission).
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
There is also a specific work for each of God's children. There is a place and a purpose for you. There is a work that you have been personally chosen to accomplish. The question is... "are you doing that work"? If you are fearful, just remember who is in control. Remember that the God who called is the God Who will equip you. The God who sent you is the same God Who will empower you.
Joshua had some major shoes to fill. Can you imagine being the guy who has to replace Moses? I am sure that he was apprehensive to say the least. But God told Joshua that He would be right there with Him. - Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
- Joshua was called and commissioned and...
C. He Was Obedient To The Lord
The task of leading God's people should never be taken lightly. Though this was a great responsibility, Joshua obeyed. Joshua 1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
Joshua did what God called him to do. In fact, throughout his life Joshua was a man obedient to his Lord.
What about you? Is your life marked by obedience? Do you obey God's word? Do you follow the direction of His Holy Spirit? Do you serve as you have been called to serve? Will you go where you have been called to go? Will you do what you have been called to do? Will you stay as long as you are called to stay?
o many people claim that they want to follow God. They say that they want to obey and they want to serve but they are just too afraid. How was Joshua able to follow the Lord's command? How was Joshua able to lead God's people into the promised land? Joshua was able because he trusted God.
- Joshua was called by the Lord, commissioned by the Lord, he was obedient to the Lord and...
D. He Trusted In The Lord
When God said "Be strong, be courageous, don't be afraid, don't be dismayed, I am with you wherever you go.... JOSHUA BELEIVED HIM. He trusted God to do what He said He would do! My friends, we can do the same. We can trust God!
- We can trust Him when He says "I know the plans that I have for you, saith the LORD, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
- We can trust Him when says that we will "receive power through the Holy Spirit". (Acts 1:8-9)
- We can trust Jesus when He says - "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
- We can trust Him when He says - I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18)
- We can trust Him when He says"lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)
We can trust the literal hundreds of other promises that God has given us through His Word. If we are going to leave behind a legacy of being a faithful servant of God we must trust in Him!
- One final thing I would like to consider about "Joshua's Remarkable Life" is that:
E. He Was Devoted To The Lord
The word of God tells us that Joshua was faithful up until his death. He served the Lord all the days of his life. So many people serve the Lord and then turn from Him. Some serve Him when it is convenient and then they fall away. Some seem to be on a never ending cycle of turning to the Lord and turning from the Lord. But in order to leave a lasting legacy we must be devoted servants of God. We must heed the words of Paul in - 1 Corinthians 15:58 ¶Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Joshua lived a remarkable life. He lived to be 110 years old. On one occasion he met Jesus. I fully believe that the Captain of the Lord's host in Joshua 5:14 is none other than a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. He was a great military leader and strategist. He commanded Israel in the Battle of Jericho. He led God's people into the Promised Land. He knew Moses personally. In fact he was hand picked by God to succeed Moses. But with all that Joshua experienced and accomplished, his greatest achievement was that He was called servant of the Lord
My friends, you may do a lot if things in this life. You have a great reputation among men. You may attain a massive amount of wealth. You may have all of the material goods that money can buy. You may have a happy home, a great marriage and many friends. You may be a kind, generous person with high moral standards. You may give to charity and serve your neighbor. You may have a life that many people dream of. You may know celebrities, politicians and even heads of state. You may have all of these things and more, but there is not greater privilege than to be called a "servant of God"!
Joshua was a faithful servant of God... what about you? Could "servant of God be your epitaph? We should all strive to live in a way that it could be!
- Let's move a little farther and consider:
II. Joshua's Inevitable Death - v29 ¶And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
Joshua did live a remarkable life. But there came a day when he drew his last breath. Regardless of his faithfulness and all that accomplished for the Lord, Joshua ended up in the ground. My friend, there is nothing that you can do to change the fact that death is coming for you one day. In the history of the world there have only been two people leave this walk of life without dying. I am referring to Enoch & Elijah. Whether they died or not, they still left this old world. This is a sobering fact. This truth should motivate us to work while there is time.
The fact is ...none of us know how much longer we have left. But what we do know is this, each day that we live is one more day that we have to serve our Lord! Time is a treasure... invest wisely!
Again, this speaks to the importance of priorities in our lives. When this life is over our material possessions won't matter. Our bank accounts, retirement and investments won't matter. Our social standing and reputations will not matter. What matters is what we send ahead of us.
- Remember what Jesus said :Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 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"
Are you more concerned with leaving behind things or would you rather leave behind a testimony that you were a faithful servant of Christ. There are many servants of God who left this walk of life many years ago, but they are still pointing people to Jesus! People like Noah, Moses, Joshua, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Elijah, Elisha, David, Samuel, Jeremiah, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Paul, Timothy, Luke, Mark, Martha, Mary and many others.
These folks are long gone but their work lives on. Think about the authors, teachers and preachers from days gone by. We still read their work. We still listen to their sermons. They are in glory but they are still working for the Lord. Many of them have an epitaph that says "A Faithful Servant Of The Lord" Will you have that same epitaph? It is possible, if you will invest your time wisely.
Joshua was a servant of the Lord and as a result He left behind a lasting legacy. This leads us to the final aspect of his life I would like to consider. Notice:
III. Joshua's Enduring Legacy - v31 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
Israel followed the Lord during the leadership of Joshua. And for a time after his death those who were left behind continued in the ways of the Lord. As a leader and more importantly a "servant of God" , it is an encouraging thought to think that the impact I have now, could last far beyond my time on earth. This testimony concerning Joshua showed that his labor was not in vain. It also shows the impact that he had for the Lord, and the impact that he had on others. Notice:
A. He Had A Personal Impact
We know that Joshua served the Lord. In doing so, he was required to invest in others. He spent time with his brethren and he trained up leaders. Joshua loved and led the people God had entrusted him with. We, as servants of Christ should have a personal impact on others. Jesus has called us to go and make disciples. This involves more than witnessing, it requires teaching others. That is the often forgotten portion of the Great Commission... "teaching them to observe the things that I have commanded you".
In order to truly disciple someone, we must invest in them. When we do, we will have a personal impact. There are people who have invested in me throughout my life and they will never know what a personal impact they have had on me. You can have a personal impact on your spouse, your children, your siblings, your parents, your classmates, your friends, your coworkers and even strangers.
- Not only did Joshua have a personal impact...
B. He Had A Positive Impact - Verse 31 says that "Israel served the LORD"
Because of his leadership, because of his faithfulness, an entire nation was impacted positively. This doesn't mean that Israel was perfect or sinless. There were still some who worshipped their false Gods, but during this timeframe the nation did not publicly turn from the Lord (as they would in the future). You will never know how far your influence may reach. This shows the importance of having a POSITIVE IMPACT. Because a negative influence can travel just as far and impact just as many people as a positive one.
Just think of Billy Graham and the influence he has had on this world and more importantly on the Kingdom of Christ. There is no way to measure the positive impact of his service. You say "I will never reach as many people as Billy Graham". That may be true, but you never know how far your influence may reach. Not many people today know who Mordecai Hamm is, but without him we may have never heard the name Billy Graham.
Joshua's faithful service impacted a nation. Thankfully it was a positive impact. His impact was personal and positive and finally we will see that:
C. He Had A Permanent Impact
The generations that Joshua reached served the Lord. But there came a time when Israel turned from the Lord. In fact, if you read on into Judges you will see God's people repeatedly turn from Him, then back to Him over and over again. With that knowledge you may be asking, why I say that Joshua had a permanent impact. The reason I can say that is because you and I and people all over this world are still learning from the life and the testimony and the legacy of this great man of God.
What kind of impact are you having? When you leave this walk of life will you leave a personal, profitable and permanent impact. According to the scriptures, if you are a child of God, you should!
Maybe you would be honest enough to examine your life and admit that you just aren't where you should be. Maybe the Holy Spirit has revealed to you that you are not a "Faithful Servant Of God". I have good news for you.... you have the opportunity to turn things around. You can make a change tonight... better yet, God can make a change in you this very moment.
In 1867, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel invented a new high explosive, which he named "dynamite." He was convinced that his invention would make war too horrible to ever happen again. However, he quickly discovered there was no shortage of buyers for his new explosive. He made a huge fortune from its sales, yet was horrified with the suffering and misery it caused in wars and conflicts. But what was he to do? Towards the end of the 19th, century he awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local paper: "Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before. He died a very rich man." Actually, it was Alfred's older brother who had died. A newspaper reporter had confused the epitaph. But the account had a profound effect on Alfred. He decided he wanted to be known for something other than developing a means to kill people efficiently, and for amassing a fortune in the process.As a result, he initiated the Nobel Prize—an award for scientists and writers who foster peace. Nobel said, "Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one."
(Source: Doug Murren and Barb Sharin, Is It Real When It Doesn't Work? (Thomas Nelson, 1990); submitted by David Holdaway, Kincardinshire, Scotland)
What will your epitaph say? I hope it says "Faithful Servant Of God"
