FOLLOW GOD FULLY

Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he WHOLLY FOLLOWED the LORD God of Israel – Joshua 14:14

The Fullness of God belongs to those who FOLLOW FULLY: “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has FOLLOWED ME FULLY, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it” (Num. 14:24). Divine inheritance is the portion of faithful followers! On five other separate occasions, the Bible testifies that Caleb followed God fully (Num. 32:11-12; Dt.1:36; Jos.14:8,9,14). What kind of follower am I – a whole-hearted or half-hearted follower? Am I following Christ fully or partially – only as it is convenient? Am I following Christ closely or from afar?

Caleb’s record was not an isolated or chance testimony. There were three witnesses to the fact that Caleb fully followed the Lord, and the same will be true of us if we fully, faithfully, and whole-heartedly follow Him:

• Caleb himself was the first witness: “Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God” (Jos.14:8). This was a sincere testimony, not a sinful boast. Can you say the same about your life as a believer over the past years, months, weeks, and days?

• Moses was the second witness: “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’ (v.9). If we are fully following the Lord we not only know it in our own hearts, but those around us know it also. What do your unconverted family and friends say about your faith in Christ?

• The Lord was the third witness: “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has FOLLOWED ME FULLY…” (Num.14:24a). Can the Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, say the same of us? This is the utmost test: what does the Lord say about my following?

These three testimonies suggest three great motives or reasons why we should fully follow the Lord:

• That God may be glorified. The only kind of life that really glorifies Him is one that is wholeheartedly submitted, given over, and sold out to Him. His command to us all is to be wholly holy – spirit, soul, and body (Lev 20: 7; Heb. 12: 14;1 Pet. 1: 15-16).

• That other people may be edified. The life that has the greater power and influence for the Lord is that which is wholeheartedly His, not the life that is only half His. Many Christians are wholehearted in everything else they do in the secular realm, but half-hearted in their Christian living. This is one reason why the gospel is not making as much progress in the world as it ought.

• That you may be fulfilled and satisfied. We all seek satisfaction; but true satisfaction is found in fully following the Lord Jesus. Note that it was at the end of his life that Caleb gave the testimony in Joshua 14: 8. He had followed God to the finish-line.

Following the Lord wholeheartedly implies three fundamental things: Concentration, Completeness, and Constancy.

Concentration means absolute allegiance and undivided loyalty (Mt.6:24; Jh.13:13). Like Paul, you must concentrate all on following Christ: “…but one thing I do…I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

Completeness means following God in all that you are, do and say; wherever you are and under every circumstance. You follow Him absolutely, utterly, with heart and soul, and without any reservation (Lk.9:61-62). –Your heart loves Him, your will obeys Him, your mind thinks of Him, your feet run for Him, your voice sings for Him, your hands work for Him, and your lips speak for Him.

Constancy means not intermittent. Peter’s intention was undoubtedly to follow the Lord wholly, but he completely failed to do so; he followed afar off; he “followed at a distance” (Lk.22:33,54). How set is your face to follow the Lord? (Ps.16:8; Lk.9:51).