The Secret: An Attitude of Fortitude

In this invigorating message centered on Joshua 14, Chuck Swindoll addresses the challenges of aging by examining the life of Caleb, a man who refused to let the passing of time diminish his spiritual vitality. Swindoll identifies four common “attitudinal enemies” that attack people as they age: uselessness (feeling over the hill), self-pity (the “woe is me” syndrome), fear (of health issues or economic loss), and guilt (regret over past failures) [16–18]. He contrasts these debilitating attitudes with the “attitude of fortitude” displayed by Caleb, who at age 85 declared he was just as strong and ready for war as he was at age 40.

Swindoll traces Caleb’s story back to Numbers 13, where Caleb stood as a minority voice against the ten spies who brought a “bad report.” While the majority possessed a “green visor mentality”—focusing only on the budget, the facts, and the obstacles—Caleb focused on the size of his God rather than the size of the giants [33–35]. Because Caleb followed the Lord fully, he survived the wilderness wanderings that claimed an entire generation.

The sermon concludes with a challenge to modern believers to reject the “rocking chair” mindset of retirement. Swindoll urges listeners to adopt three specific habits: forget your age, focus on your goals, and follow the Lord fully. Just as Caleb asked for the “hill country” inhabited by giants rather than the easy land, Swindoll calls on seniors to remain engaged, enthusiastic, and ready to claim new mountains for God, arguing that “none are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm” [15, 63, 69–78].

Message Key Facts:

• The Enemies of Aging: Swindoll lists four specific attitudes that ruin the later years:
  1. Uselessness: Feeling one is no longer important.
  2. Self-Pity: Believing life has been unfairly hard.
  3. Fear: Being paralyzed by potential loss of mind, mate, or money.
  4. Guilt: Being anchored by the “if onlys” of the past [16–18].
• The “Green Visor” Mentality: Swindoll uses the metaphor of board members with green visors to describe the ten spies in Numbers 13. These are people who look only at the facts, figures, and obstacles (the giants and fortified cities) and demand retreat, ignoring the power of God [33–34].
• Caleb’s Request at 85: Unlike many who seek comfort in old age, Caleb asked Joshua, “Give me this hill country.” Swindoll notes that this region was home to the Anakim (giants) and fortified cities. Caleb didn’t want the easy chair; he wanted the challenge [4, 50–51].
• Theodore Roosevelt’s Vitality: To illustrate zest for life, Swindoll shares stories of Teddy Roosevelt, including him having a Secret Service agent lower him down a cliff to photograph a bird’s nest. When the agent couldn’t pull him back up, Roosevelt cut the rope himself, falling into icy water, only to grin and call the experience “bully” [52–56].
• The Bumblebee Theory: Swindoll notes that according to aerodynamics (body weight vs. wingspan), the bumblebee cannot fly. However, “the bumblebee does not know that,” so it flies anyway and makes honey. This illustrates the refusal to be limited by “scientific facts” regarding what one should be able to do at a certain age [66–67].
• The Peanut Story: Swindoll shares a humorous story about a pastor who ate all of an elderly parishioner’s peanuts, only to apologize and hear her say, “That’s okay, I can’t chew them anyway; I just suck the chocolate off.” This humor highlights the physical realities of aging [13–14].
• “Following Fully”: The phrase “followed the Lord fully” appears three times regarding Caleb (Joshua 14:8, 9, 14). Swindoll explains this means thinking God’s thoughts after Him and doing what God planned, rather than just trying to act young.

Message References:

• Joshua 14:6–14: The primary text detailing Caleb’s request for Hebron at age 85.
• Numbers 13:25–33: The flashback to the report of the spies, where Caleb and Joshua stood against the majority view [28–36].
• 2 Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us a spirit of fear [timidity], but of power and of love and discipline”.
• Joshua 14:12: Caleb’s bold request: “Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day”.
• Joshua 14:14: The summary of Caleb’s legacy: “Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb… because he followed the Lord God of Israel fully”.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll