Today’s Reading: Joshua 24
Many historical figures have certain phrases or quotes closely associated with them. Alfred Lord Tennyson, for example, is credited with saying, “Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” Forrest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
Each of these memorable quotes have a way of sticking with us and
defining our view of the person who said them.
In today’s key verse, we come to the most memorable and defining quote
of Joshua’s life and legacy, “Choose this day whom you will serve… but as
for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” This quote is remembered today as one of the
most important and most defining quotes in the entire Bible.
These are Joshua’s final words to Israel before his death at the age of 110 years old. This defining quote sets before all of us a choice. Will we serve the LORD, and Him alone? Or will we continue to serve other so-called “gods.” Joshua called together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. Then Joshua addressed all the people. He reminded them that their ancestors were idol worshippers. But the LORD rescued them when He took Abraham out of his pagan society and led him to a new land.
The LORD rescued them again when He sent Aaron and Moses to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. He rescued them again during their long sojourn in the middle-eastern desert. Once again when He parted the Jordan River. And again when He granted them victory over the enemies in the land. God handed them a land for which they did not work, towns they did not build, and vineyards and olive groves they did not plant.
But in spite of all the LORD’s mighty works in reaching down and saving this nation, they were still vulnerable – still in danger of – falling back into their old idol-worshipping ways. So Joshua warns them and presents them with a clear choice: If you decide to worship God, then get rid of the gods and idols your ancestors worshiped on the far side of the river –or-- if you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a “god” you’d rather serve. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond the river, or one of the gods of the Amorites, it’s up to you. But whatever you do, CHOOSE – do it TODAY.
There’s no time to dawdle with this matter. They must choose their path TODAY! Don’t put it off any longer. Don’t think you can sit on the fence. You must make a choice and you must make it right now. When the people heard the choice laid out for them, they proclaimed, “We’d never forsake God! Never! We’d never leave God to worship other gods. The LORD is our God!” Today, you are faced with the same choice. Will you abandon the false “gods” and idols in your life and follow fully after God? Anything that you love, treasure, prioritize, identify with, or look to for need fulfillment outside of God, can be acting as an idol in your heart and life. Do you serve success? Or wealth? Or your image? Or social acceptance? Or work? Or some pet sin in your life? If so, you have a choice to make: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Serve God - and Him alone – or stick with your lifeless idols.
There’s no time to dawdle or delay – you must choose TODAY! But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!
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