IT’S YOUR TURN TO CHOOSE

By: Richard Kirkland

Joshua 24:15

Introduction:

            “Choice” is an extremely popular word.  Our society is preoccupied with individualism to the point that virtually anything and everything is portrayed as simply a matter of personal preference, with no standard or right/wrong to be considered.  The fact is that while we can and do exercise the power of choice, we also can and do make choices that are tragically wrong.  Fortunately, we can also make choices that are right.

            After Joshua led Israel into the promised land and helped them conquer the Canaanite tribes, he set before them a choice that every individual Israelite would have to make sooner or later.  “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).

I.          CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE.

            A.        God created people with freedom of choice, Genesis 2:17.

                        1.         Not Calvinistic “predestination”

                        2.         People aren’t robots, but creatures capable of making intelligent choices

            B.         Many choices must be made in life (important and trivial ones).

                        1.         Trivial -- what to do for breakfast

                        2.         Important: whom to marry, where to be employed, where to live

                        3.         MOST important: Whom you will serve!

            C.        God is not served by accident, but by choice-- cf.  Romans 6:17, 10:10.

II.        CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

            A.        This choice belongs to every individual

                                    1.         No one can make the choice for you (wife, husband, parents, friends)

                                    2.         This also means that you must take personal responsibility for the choice you make!

            B.         Your choice will influence the choices others make

                        1.         Cf.  V. 15b, Joshua spoke on behalf of his family

                                    a.         He pledged himself to lead in the right direction

                                    b.         He realized his leadership would be effective

                                    2.         Conversely, realize that you may be affected by others’ choices (for good or for ill -- be careful!)

                                                3.         Regardless, in the final analysis, each one is responsible for his/her own choices (Galatians 6:5).

III.       CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

            A.        NOW is a day of salvation.  (2 Corinthians 6:2).

            B.         You have no guarantee of tomorrow.  (James 4:13-14).

                        1.         You have nothing to gain and everything to lose by procrastinating.

                                    2.         No need to “wait until I’m sure I can live it”-- you will never be able to “live it” without Jesus!

                                    3.         Tragic mistakes to “sow my wild oats” first, with intention of becoming a Christian later (harvest time may come sooner than expected)!

C.        If Jesus is worth following at all, He’s worth following today (NOW).  Matthew 8:21-22.

IV.       CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

            A.        Joshua offered Israel an assortment of idols from which to choose, as well as the true God.

            1.         There were the idols their ancestors had worshiped on the other side of the Euphrates (i.e. when Terah and family dwelt at Haran)

            2.         Or there were the idols of the Amorites, in whose land they were now dwelling (lots of options from which to choose)!

            3.         We also have numerous choices — serve money, self, recreation, popularity, worldly ambition, etc.

B.         It boils down to “whom” (not “what”) you will serve:

            1.         What you serve is merely a manifestation of whom you serve.

            2.         You have but two choices of whom to serve (1 John 5:19).

                                    a.         Indifference is not an option, Luke 11:23 (This point is further illustrated by parents being “neutral” — “Let the kids make up their own minds.”  By their “neutrality” such foolish parents influence their children away from God.  Also, if parents are “neutral”, the dope dealers, pornographers, cultists, etc., are not!)

                                    b.         You are a bond-slave to one or the other, cf. Romans 6:16.

V.        CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE

            A.        It is human nature to serve (religiously)!

                        1.         God created us to serve HIM

                        2.         If we do not serve Him, we will serve someone or something else (people have invented myriads of idols)!

            B.         The in life is a life of service!

                        1.         Faith in God is involved, but service includes much more...

                        2.         Refraining from certain obvious sins involved, but service includes much more...

                        3.         Bible classes and the assembly are involved, but service includes much more...

                        4.         Service includes all of the above, plus much more:

                                    a.         Living a holy, godly life

                                    b.         Seeing to the needs of fellow-human beings (Matthew 25:31-36), serve Jesus by serving others)

                                    c.         Teaching God’s word to others

C.        Service to God must never end:

                        1.         Israel’s service was temporary

                                    a.         They pledged to serve God, Joshua 24:16, 21, 24

                        b.         The people of Joshua’s generation fulfilled their pledge, Judges 2:7

                        c.         The next generation apostatized, Judges 2:10; the pitiful pattern of the book of Judges resulted (sin, servitude, sorrow, supplication, salvation)

            2.         Once we begin to serve God, we must never quit!

                        a.         Luke 9:62, don’t look back

                        b.         Starting and then stopping is worse than never starting, 2 Peter 2:20-22

Conclusion:

            Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve!

            As for me and my house we will serve the LORD!