Life Lessons Learned
If you knew your time was almost up—really knew it—what would you say? What would you cling to? What would you let go of?
That’s not just a hypothetical. For many, that question becomes very real in the face of illness, aging, tragedy, or divine revelation. And that’s exactly the setting in which we find Joshua, the faithful leader of Israel, in today’s readings from Joshua 22–24, 2 Corinthians 13, and Psalm 60. These final chapters of Joshua’s life and ministry, along with the closing benediction of Paul’s second letter to Corinth and the heart-cry of the psalmist, confront us with the essential: what really matters when the clock is ticking?
Joshua’s Final Words: Don’t Forget Who Brought You Here
Joshua had walked through fire and flood with the people of Israel. He saw the Red Sea part, wandered the wilderness, crossed the Jordan, and marched around Jericho. And now, as he stood at the end of his life, the words that rose from his soul weren’t about strategy or personal legacy—they were about faithfulness.
“Hold fast to Yahweh your God,” he says in Joshua 23:8. He doesn’t say “try harder” or “remember how great I was as your leader.” No, Joshua points their attention entirely to God: Yahweh has fought for you, just as He promised. And because of that, “one of you put a thousand to flight” (v. 10). That’s not a call to pride; it’s a call to remember where your strength really comes from.
In other words, when you’re nearing the end of your journey, what matters most isn’t how many battles you won or how popular you were. What matters is that you clung to the One who never left your side.
Paul’s Closing Blessing: Grow in Christ, Even When It Hurts
In 2 Corinthians 13, Paul, too, is wrapping things up. After a letter filled with correction and concern, he boils it all down to this: “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, be restored, be encouraged, be in agreement, be at peace…” (v. 11).
It’s beautiful in its simplicity. Rejoice. Be whole. Encourage each other. Pursue peace. Why? Because “the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Paul’s heart, much like Joshua’s, isn’t concerned with legacy or performance. He wants the church to mature—to be so rooted in Christ that even when things fall apart, they remain together. He says earlier in the same chapter, “we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and we pray for this: your maturity” (v. 9). He saw weakness as a gift if it meant others would grow strong in Christ.
So, what’s our takeaway? When the end draws near—or even if we’re just feeling the pressure of time—we should be asking: How mature is my faith? Am I still letting God refine me, even in weakness?
A Modern Lens: What If It Were You?
That very question is echoed in the fictional story from Northern Exposure, where Dr. Joel Fleischman, believing he’s terminally ill, throws caution to the wind—racing motorcycles, flouting the law, and living recklessly. But when he learns he’s not dying after all, he’s not relieved—he’s angry. His choices, made without eternity in mind, now seem foolish.
Isn’t that a powerful contrast to Joshua and Paul? They knew their end was near, and they used their final moments not to serve themselves but to bless others, to anchor them in truth.
What would your words look like if you knew your time was short? Would they sound like Joel’s, or like Joshua’s? Like Paul’s?
Here’s the irony: we are living in our final days. Maybe not tomorrow or next week—but Christ could come back at any moment. Or our earthly journey could end sooner than we expect. Shouldn’t we live now with the clarity that Joshua and Paul had?
The Psalmist’s Perspective: Human Help Is Futile—But God’s Isn’t
Psalm 60 reminds us why this all matters: “Give us help against the adversary, for the help of humankind is futile. Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our enemies” (vv. 11–12).
It’s not hard to see how much we place our hopes in human strength—government systems, financial advisors, even well-meaning friends. But Psalm 60 brings it into sharp focus: when the battle is raging, only God can truly help you.
That’s not a call to reject human wisdom or relationships, but it is a call to rightly prioritize where our hope lies. When time is short, it’s not our resumes or accomplishments or alliances that will stand. It’s our relationship with God. Only He can deliver. Only He can carry us through.
Three Life Lessons to Remember When Time Is Short
Let’s wrap up with three truths we can take with us—whether we’re in our last days or just waking up to the urgency of life:
Hold fast to God, not your accomplishments.
Joshua’s strength wasn’t in his leadership or legacy—it was in God’s faithfulness. The same goes for you.
Grow in Christ, even in weakness.
Paul’s prayer was for maturity, not perfection. Let your weaknesses be places where God’s strength can shine.
Place your hope in the eternal, not the temporary.
Psalm 60 pulls back the curtain: human help is limited, but God’s help is limitless.
So, let me ask you today—what are you clinging to? What words are forming in your heart as your own life unfolds? Are you living with urgency or complacency?
The good news is that even if you’ve wasted time or made poor decisions in the past, God’s grace meets you here. Right now. His Spirit invites you to live today with eternity in view.
Related Article:
“How to Live Each Day with Eternity in Mind” – Crosswalk.com
Thank you for applying the Word of God to your life and spiritual growth. It’s your hunger for truth and maturity that makes all the difference in your walk with Christ.
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