There are times in our lives when we have to make tough decisions. We hem and we haw about whether or not we are making the right ones. We seek counsel from our peers and often times we keep asking until we hear what we have been wanting to hear. In the end, our peace hangs in the balance because we don't know where we really stand. It becomes less and less about the decision itself and more and more about the outcome of that decision. And the outcome is determined by where we place our focus, on what or on whom.
For those of us who say we believe in God, we must make a very important decision. Even Joshua posed this question to Israel and his answer graces walls all over the world, including my own.
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”What does it mean to put away the idols your ancestors worshiped? What does he mean "choose this day whom you will serve?"
Joshua 24:14-15 (New Living Translation)
On the surface, it seems we are to abandon the ways of those who have come before us. But, I would challenge you to dig a little deeper. It's not just about the generational idol worship that you and I have inherited, it's about those idols we are dragging around behind us. It's about the past - the wrong we have suffered, the hurt we have carried and the pain we may have caused another. It is the very thing that keeps us in bondage and from walking in the liberty of God! Why do we feel we must consult our past in order to move into the future?? We don't own our past anymore! As soon as we crossed the threshold from the past to the present, God takes ownership! He doesn't want us to carry the weight of the past upon our shoulders. It's why He sent His Son to suffer and die. He said to us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NLT). Yes, He spoke regarding our current burdens - our worries, our struggles, the things we battle in the here and now. Yet, He also meant the weight we carry behind us - the very things that haunt us when we approach something new and exciting and that we know is in line with God's will for us.
Instead of walking in the liberty of God's truth and love, we cower beneath the weight of the what-ifs and the fear of not just failure, but of success. We idolize our past to such a degree that it leaves us paralyzed and unable to walk into our destiny. The very Spirit that raised Jesus from the depths of the grave lives in us, if we truly have accepted the free gift of salvation. Once saved, we have an opportunity to show our gratitude to God by walking in obedience to Him. Our offering is all of our heart, mind, and soul.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.
Deuteronomy 10:12 (NLT)(emphasis mine)
What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)(emphasis mine)
It's not about fair. It never will be. The past is the past and only God alone reserves the right to pass judgment. We must bear in mind, however, that you and I are afforded the same grace and mercy. My sins are no better or worse than your sins, regardless of how the world views them. Sin is sin. Jesus paid the price for all sin. Why is this important? Because I didn't go to the cross for any man. I have no right to be disobedient or rebellious against God because someone we believe deserves to be punished seems to be getting away without any consequences. So, why do we drag that weight around our necks? Why do we shake our fist at God and ask "why?" all the while demanding He bless us in our feeble attempts to serve Him?
Here's the bottom-line: God will not honor lip service. He cannot do so. James tells us this:
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:17-24 (NLT) (emphasis mine)God wants to bless us. He wants to answer our prayers. But, He can and will only do so if what we ask is in line with His will.
"My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours."What is the point to all this? We have to make a choice. Let's revisit Joshua 24:14-15 again:
1 John 5:14-15 (The Message)(emphasis mine)
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”I don't know about you, but I don't want to be like Ebenezer Scrooge's partner, Marley, who bore in death the chains of sin he created in life. I want to walk in the liberty of God, so that I may serve Him, and prosper. Just as God exhorted Joshua, we can glean the same power and strength from these words:
Joshua 24:14-15 (New Living Translation)(emphasis mine)
“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”The time to live boldly for God is now. Choose this day whom you will serve. For me, there is only one Way. I can't make this choice for you. I can only point you in the direction of the Truth.
Joshua 1:6-9 (NLT)(emphasis mine)
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (NKJV)
