Choose You This Day

From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers

Truth Baptist Church

Bremen, GA

www.trumpetoftruthonline.org

Choose You This Day

Joshua 24:14-16

Intro: Joshua calls the people of Israel together right after they conquer Canaan and take the land. He puts before them the choice of whether they will serve the Lord. It is reminiscent of the words of his predecessor Moses, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Deut 30:19. As a matter of fact, this issue of man making the right choices and choosing to serve God or not is as old as the earth. Adam and Eve could have eaten of any tree in the Garden... including the tree of life, but they chose rather to eat of the forbidden fruit. It was a choice of life or death, blessing or cursing, God or Satan, truth or lies. The same choice is set before each one of us today!

There are many things we could discuss about this choice today: the Time to choose, the Truth of choice, the Terror of the wrong choice. We could talk about the Person who chooses (you), the Period to choose (this day), and the Pattern of choices (life or death, blessings or cursings). No choice is a rejection of Christ and will seal your doom. You must choose who you will serve! Notice four things about this verse, "Choose You This Day."

I.The Right Of Choice: Joshua said, "Choose you". The choice is up to you. God will not coerce you into serving him. It is up to you. You can accept or reject him. Satan would have men serve him of coercion, but our Lord has given you the choice!

II.Responsibility Of Choice: With the right to choose comes the responsibility to choose. "Choose you this day." If you make the wrong decision, it is not the responsibility of mom or dad, the preacher or the church, the neighbor or friend. It is your responsibility to choose.

III.The Record Of Choice: It has always been life or death, blessings or cursings.

A.Adam and Eve Chose Death, Gen 3

B.Annanias and Saphirra Chose Death, Acts 5

C.The Rich Man Chose Death, Luke 16... BUT

D.Lazarus Chose Life. Abraham chose life. Paul Chose Life, Peter Chose Life, Phillip told Nathaniel they had found him and if he doubted to come and see. Nathaniel could have chosen life or death, but he chose life!

WHICH WAY WILL YOU CHOSE? THERE IS A RECORD OF THE REPERCUSSION OF THE CHOICES YOU MAKE. WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?

IV.Readiness Of Choice: "Choose you THIS DAY." Today is the day to choose. Now is the time to get ready.

Heb 3:7-13 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

Ps 32:6 "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:"

Isa 55:6 "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"

Acts 24:25 "And as (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." But as far as we know, Felix NEVER found a convenient time, and he went to Hell!

II Cor 6:2 "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"

YOU BETTER GET SAVED WHILE YOU KNOW YOU CAN, NOT WHEN YOU THINK YOU WILL. YOU CAN ONLY GET SAVED WHEN THE FATHER IS DRAWING!

Conclusion: Now it is time to make a choice. Today is the day to choose to follow God. Hebrews 11:24-26, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." If you have come to years, if you know your direction has you headed to hell, and you believe God is calling you to him, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE! Call on God in faith!

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