Dealing with times of transition is an appropriate subject for disciples of Jesus Christ to consider. We deal with transitions in our lives as disciples, and with how to live in and through times of transition. Transitions are a reality - changes in people, in friends and acquaintances, in jobs, in family make up, in where we live, and so on. God’s word does not leave us helpless but in Joshua 1:1-9 provides us with four principles we can apply to our lives in times of transition.
We are all familiar with the book of Joshua. It is, in a sense, a book about transitions. The children of Israel are about to enter into the promised land and conquer it. They are in transition - from centuries of living in Egypt and 40 years of living in the Wilderness, from being a people, from wandering and from the leadership of Moses, to living in Canaan, to being a nation, to being settled, and to the leadership of Joshua. What faced God’s people - and Joshua as the new leader - was the future. How were they going to get from where they had been to where they were to be?
God says a number of key things to Joshua as recorded in Joshua 1:1-9. In verses 2 and 3, He speaks of the past and the future. He says, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan river into the land I am about to give to them - to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” In verses 5b and 9b, He speaks of His promises as they relate to the present and the future. He says, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” and “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” And in verse 8, He speaks of His Word. He says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you will be prosperous and successful.”
What is God saying to Joshua, and through Him to the Israelites, as they face the transitions before them? What is it that God is saying to us in the present as disciples of Jesus Christ? I believe that these verses set forth four principles that apply to us in times of transition, and they are as follows:
- Take a realistic view of the past and let it go.
- Look ahead to the future God has provided.
- Step out into that future with confidence on the basis of God’s promise to be ever present.
- Live and obey God’s word continually and in everything.
If we intentionally and conscientiously apply these four principles, I believe that we will have success in the sense of living out His will as individuals and as an assembly of true disciples of Jesus. But how do we apply these four principles?
First, we need to recognize that the world we face today is not that of yesterday. The world is ever more pluralistic and relativistic. Those in their 20’s and 30’s don’t necessarily think about life the way those of us in our 50’s and older do. The pace of technological change is ever increasing. I could go on. Suffice it to say that while the truths of God’s word continue unchanged, ways we approached living in the past, and even ways we thought about and analyzed things, do not necessarily work any longer. We therefore need to be free from the clutches of the past or we will trip over the landscape of the future. We must let the past go, in that sense, and not “walk backwards” into the future or we will certainly fall.
Second, God has provided for us the opportunity to serve Him right where we happen to be, and to serve Him regardless of our job or career, our health, the present or future shape, size, or composition of our church, or other such circumstances. God’s provision for our future is in the people we serve and to whom we minister, namely each other and our “neighbors.” We need to look ahead to those we serve as the focus of our mission, and that focus alone will help us in our times of transition.
Third, with our vision before us, we need to step out into our future intentionally, knowing that God’s presence is ever with us. God is indeed intimately involved in each of our lives as individuals, but He is also involved with us collectively in as those committed to one another in the local church. God is in us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He would always be with us (Matt. 28:20b). We can therefore step out with strength and courage because He is with us - even when we make mistakes; even when life’s terrain is rocky; even when we cannot see clearly that which we should do or where we should go.
Fourth, and finally, in our stepping out, we need to live and obey His word continually. By so doing, He will be blessed individually and as a church, even if only in the knowledge that we are obedient. Living and obeying His word means that we do not compromise the truth in our everyday activities, in our relationships with one another and in the world at large. We are to apply His word as we understand it consistently and continually in every situation, with prayer for insight, discernment and wisdom. Then we will be prosperous and successful in kingdom terms, if not in the world’s terms.
In sum, I suggest that we need not fear the future even in the midst of transitions. Why? Because of God’s on-going presence with us. And as we take a realistic view of the past and let it go, as we look ahead to the future God has provided, as we step out into our future with confidence on the basis of God’s promise to be ever present, and as we live and obey God’s word continually in everything, we will experience “success” in the kingdom sense of the word. As we set our collective wills to the task of living as true disciples of Jesus Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, we can be strong in mind, in will, in humility, in faith, in devotion, in obedience, and in service to Him.
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Have you ever seen a lighthouse up close and personal? At one particular spot where my family vacations is a place called Harbortown. The location is aptly named for the boat harbor it surrounds. At the entry to the harbor stands a lighthouse which is no longer in active service, but instead is open to tourists. A long climb up the circular stairs inside the lighthouse leads to the walkway surrounding what used to be the room where the actual light was located. When looking out from the walkway, one can see past the channel to the ocean beyond and imagine the boats proceeding at night from the darkness of the sea to the safety and shelter of the harbor by following the light.
“We passed out water and freezy pops at the Clarence Bike path. Several people took water and freezy pops and a few asked why we were doing this. It was great to smile and say, ‘we just wanted to share God’s love.’ People were kind, open, social.”
“It was a wonderful time to see the ‘body’ having joy in working together! It was a reminder that serving the Lord is a unifying and encouraging activity. The world needs to see Christians united in their work for Him.”
As a lawyer, I have learned (and keep learning) the art of thinking like a client in the classroom of the practice of law through meeting and dealing with clients from all walks of life who face myriads of circumstances which often involve issues well beyond legal issues. In order to deal effectively with a client’s particular situation, I need to understand not only the issues in general, but also the issues as the client sees them. Once I understand what is involved, I need to communicate possible solutions and courses of action in a way that the client can understand. To do so, I have to avoid technical legal language and instead speak the client’s language.