“Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I whiolly followed the LORD my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, “Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.” And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now my strength is for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakin were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” (Joshua 14:6-12 NKJV)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
“So that you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:12 BSB)
Over the last 5 years my Daddy (my Heavenly Abba Father) has been walking with me down a road that leads to the abundant life that he desgned for His children out of His desire for us to experience His life fully. On that road He has introduced me to 5 individuals that walked the road before me (Caleb, Moses, Abraham, Enoch, and Jesus). Together, Daddy and I have named that raod the “Road to Refirement.”
It has become obvious that Daddy ordered my meeting of each of these individuals with a very specific desire and design in mind. Each meeting was intended to challenge my current state of mind, and way of living, in order to take me to the edge without pushing me over the cliff. I am now referring to each of these moments of fresh revelation from Daddy as “Mile Markers.” Each of these “Mile Markers” are well known individuals from the pages of the Bible. I have read about them many times, however it was not until Daddy “revealed” them to me that I actually understood just how important their life is to mine. While I was able to know “about” them by reading the accounts in Scripture, I never actually “knew” them until Daddy opened my eyes.
Jesus taught an important lesson when He told Peter…”Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 16:17 BSB). It is only through revelation that I will ever truly know the Truth in the way that Daddy intended. That is exactly what He has been doing for me as He has been introducing me to some life changing individuals at each of the Mile Markers on the “Road to Refirement.”
I met Caleb at Mile Marker 1 back in January of 2018. He was there to share with me the “inside scoop” on his experience of taking the mountain that he waited for 45 years to take. What impressed me most about Caleb was his genuine boldness and contagious enthusiasm. He was so consumed with the promise that he had been given that nothing else seemed to have any impact on him. He was so singular minded in his focus on recieving that promise that nothing could distract or dissuade him from fulfilling his purpose. From day one, he knew that once he recieved the revelation from his Father that he was going to take the mountain that the mountain was his, no if, ands, or buts! During the 45 years of waiting (from the age of 40 until 85) he mixed faith and patience to be completely assured of the Truth that whatever His Father spoke would come to pass. He walked in his assignment and recieved the “Kingdom – Natural” provision to carry it out to completion. Caleb’s youth was renewed and at the age of 85, with all of the strength, vitality, and vigor of a 40 year old, he marched up the mountain, slayed the giants, and took his promised city for God.
Daddy revealed to me in this meeting with Caleb that this was His desire and design for me. It has been said that “age is an illusion,” I believe that wholeheartedly. Caleb’s life experience was not intended to be a story for Sunday School. The account of his life was not intended to leave us thinking, “that sure was a cool thing to read about.” His experience was written down to give us opprtunity to see our Heavenly Father’s desire and design for our lives lived out in the example of a man who refused to listen to the crowd and abandon a clear promise given by his Creator. Aging and death are from the enemy, not from Daddy. Living long and strong with purpose like Caleb is supposed to be the “rule,” not the “exception.”
When I had given in to life’s temptations, and given up on Daddy’s promises, I was introduced to Caleb at Mile Marker 1 on the “Road to Refirement,” and it awakened me to the possibilities that were still ahead of me. I too could have renewed youth that would empower me to take my mountain at 85 and beyond. Daddy knew I was ready to receive this first level of “stretching” without “snapping.” He gave me just enough to require the “measure” of faith that I currently possessed be put to use.
Tomorrow we will travel to Mile Marker 2.