We are remembered most by how we live when our life comes to an end.

The addict who kicks their habit and lives clean and sober for the remainder of their lives is admired. But, on the other hand, the business person with a successful career that lies and cheats, in the end, is remembered with disdain.

It’s not how we start that matters as much as how we finish!

The Bible is full of examples of men who started well but did not finish well. For example, Solomon started out well but turned away from God (1 Kings 11:9-10). King Saul started well but also turned away from God (1 Samuel 15:26-29). Demas was described several times in glowing terms as a co-worker with Paul, but Paul later laments that Demas had deserted him (1 Timothy 4:10).

Lots of people start well but don’t finish well.

If you want to finish well, you should look at the example of someone who did finish well to see what was different in their lives.

One of the finest Biblical examples of a man who finished well is Caleb.

Caleb’s Courageous Leadership

Caleb was born into the tribe of Judah, while the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.

We don’t hear anything about Caleb until Moses picks him as the leader to represent the tribe of Judah. His task was, along with 11 other tribal leaders, to explore the Promised Land and report back. Caleb reported to Moses and the people saying they should go and take the land promised by God (Numbers 13:30).

Ten of the tribal leaders objected, saying they would have been better off dying as slaves in Egypt.

Joshua stood with Caleb this time and said they should go into the Promised Land just as God had promised them (Number 14:7-10).

You know the rest of the story. The fear of taking the Promised Land caused the Israelites to wander in the desert for 40-years.

Caleb’s Strategy for Finishing Well

When it came time for each of the Israelite tribes to claim their inheritance in the Promised Land, Caleb stepped up and asked Joshua to give him the land God had promised 40-years before (Joshua 14:6-15).

Despite being 85-years old, Caleb said he was as strong a warrior as ever. He asked to take the very land where the giants lived that had so scared his fellow tribe members 40-years before. Despite the dangers, Caleb was not deterred. His eye was on the land God had promised him (Numbers 14:24).

Passion & Purpose

Three times in the book of Joshua, Caleb is described as “following the Lord wholeheartedly” (Joshua 14:8, 14:9, 14:14). The Hebrew word translated “wholeheartedly” (sometimes translated “loyal”) means to be so full there is no room for anything else. Caleb’s sole purpose, his deepest desire, was to follow God. He lived his whole life focused on following and obeying God through every trial. There is no greater passion and purpose in the life of a believer who wishes to finish well.

Presence, Power, and Promise

When Caleb asked for his tribe’s inheritance in the Promised Land, he said,

“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 14:12).

Caleb counted on the presence of the Lord. He knew he could not drive out the Anakim on his power alone but with the power of the Lord. Finally, Caleb relied on the promise of God made all those years before.

The 5-P’s of Finishing Well

The apostle Paul’s greatest fear was that he would not finish well. So he said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…” (Acts 20:24).

If we are to finish well, we must endure the trials and tribulations of life and “wholeheartedly follow the Lord.” As believers, we must be passionate about following the Lord, and we must see it as our primary purpose!

To finish well, we must also recognize that we cannot do it on our own power. We must rely on His power rather than our own power. We must count on the presence of the Lord in our lives. He is with us always! And we must hold onto the promises of the Lord. He never makes a promise He does not keep!

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. Are you following God wholeheartedly? What is your strategy to finish well?

I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because people like you share it with friends. Would you share it by pressing one of the share buttons below?

Category: Personal Development | Purpose/Passion