Read Joshua 24

The Choice is Yours

In his farewell address to the children of Israel, Joshua reminded them of all God had done from the time of Abraham to their present possession o the land of Canaan. He reminded them of the Lord’s guidance through Moses out of Egypt, and of His faithful blessings as they conquered their enemies, and of His gracious gift of “a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant” (Joshua 24:13).

The aged leader urges faithfulness. How many times had God’s chosen people complained, grumbled, and murmured? How many times had they lamented their current situation, longing for the days of slavery in Egypt? Joshua reminds them that the false gods of Egypt did nothing for them; only the one, true God of heaven could bless them. Yet, they had the choice to make: the “little g” gods that don’t exist outside of one’s own imagination, or the God who made everything. “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

This is a choice man must continue to make today. There are many false “little g” gods in the traditional sense found in world religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Then there are the false doctrines about God, found in denominationalism, that promote “a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).

Let us never forget, however, that anything we place before God becomes a god. Whether money, or sports, or education, or even family, if we do not exalt God to the proper place above everything, then we are setting ourselves up for spiritual failure.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). The things of this life are temporary; God is eternal. May we ever focus on Him. “Serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:14).