Fighting & Finishing

Leaving Nothing Undone: Fighting & Finishing
Text: Joshua 11:15 
“As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.”

The Christian life calls for more than a good beginning. God calls us to remain faithful when the battle becomes difficult and to complete the work he has placed before us. Joshua gives us an example of that kind of faithfulness.
Previously, we considered Joshua as a faithful soldier, servant, and steward. Now we see two more aspects of his character: Joshua was a fighter and a finisher. These are traits we need to develop through Christ in our own Christian lives.

Joshua Was a Fighter
Joshua 11:7 shows Joshua and the people of war engaging the enemy. Joshua did more than hold a position in the army. He entered the battle. You can enlist as a soldier and still be reluctant to fight. Likewise, we can become comfortable watching others serve, pray, witness, and stand for truth while we remain on the sidelines. God calls us to engage in the good fight of faith. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” — 1 Timothy 6:12
Joshua faced foes, but he also had failures behind him. Israel had suffered defeat at Ai, and the Gibeonites had deceived Israel’s leaders. Yet those failures did not end Joshua’s usefulness. He continued forward in obedience.
We must also fight against our flesh. Fear, doubt, and frustration can tempt us to withdraw from the work God has given us. Through Christ, we can face those struggles and continue doing what is right.
Paul wrote, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” (1 Corinthians 9:26). Our Christian lives should have purpose. We must recognize the spiritual battle and faithfully engage in it.
Fight for One Another: In Nehemiah 4:14, Nehemiah called the people to remember the Lord and fight for their families. They were defending more than their own interests. Their loved ones were depending on them.
We should carry that concern into our homes and church. We can fight for one another through prayer, encouragement, faithful service, and a willingness to stand for truth. When a brother or sister grows weary, we should help bear the burden. When our families face spiritual opposition, we must remain watchful and faithful.
Our confidence rests in the Lord. Nehemiah 4:20 declares, “our God shall fight for us.”
God’s help gives us courage to obey. We do not have to face the battle in our own strength.
Get Back Up: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” — Proverbs 24:16. Fighters can get knocked down. Failure, fear, opposition, and the flesh can discourage us. But a fall doesn't have to be our finish. When we sin, we need to repent. When we make a mistake, we need to receive correction. Then, by God’s grace, we must get back up and continue obeying him. Don't let yesterday’s failure become today’s excuse.

Joshua Was a Finisher
Joshua 11:15 records that “he left nothing undone.” Joshua obeyed the commands God had given through Moses. This does not mean Israel had no work remaining; Joshua 13:1 still speaks of land to be possessed. It means Joshua faithfully carried out the commands in view.
We need that same determination to complete what God has entrusted to us.
In basketball, a player must finish at the rim, even through contact. In football, a player must finish the play and keep playing until the whistle. Difficulty does not cancel the assignment. “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” — Colossians 4:17
The ministry we receive in the Lord deserves our attention and perseverance. We should take care of it, remain faithful in it, and fulfill it. Ezra 6:15 records the temple's completion, and Nehemiah 6:15 records the completion of Jerusalem’s wall in fifty-two days.
Opposition was real, but the work was finished. In Luke 14:28–30, Jesus described a man who began building a tower without having sufficient resources to finish. Those who watched mocked his unfinished work. We should consider the cost of following Christ and take our responsibilities seriously.
Finish for Christ. We should be faithful because God is faithful. We should fight the good fight because God fights for us. We should finish for Christ because Christ finished for us.
On the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Our service does not purchase salvation. We serve because the Savior completed the work we could never accomplish on our own. His finished work gives us reason to love him, trust him, and serve him faithfully.

What Have You Left Undone?
Has God brought something to your attention that you have left unfinished?
Perhaps you need to apologize, resume a responsibility, or delay an act of obedience. Identify the next faithful step and take it.
Paul could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” — 2 Timothy 4:7. By God’s grace, let us keep fighting and finish what he has given us to do. Let us encourage one another along the way and finish together.