Sermon Central Contributor Account# 12972
Rev. Wayne A. Lawson, M.Min
First Baptist Church
Ardmore, OK
(Preached Sunday August 14, 2005)
http://firstbaptistok.org/
Scripture: Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Title: A Today Only Offer
One of my favorite books is a Thesaurus. I ordinarily keep a Thesaurus handy in my preparations for school assignments – Bible study – lectures – sermon preparation. Many of you probably have your dusty little paperback thesaurus from your college days. I need not tell you that with modern technology – various computer software packages have a thesaurus feature. What I like about – a thesaurus is the fact that it gives you choices. If you find yourself stuck using the same word, over and over, or want a different word to make a point, you go to your thesaurus to give you options. For example, if I’m composing a sermon and find myself with a sentence like, "GOD IS THE GREAT GOD WHO SPOKE ALL THINGS INTO EXISTENCE FOR GOD’S PLEASURE,” - I might want to find some other words for God to make that sentence say something easier to understand. The thesaurus provides me with very interesting choices: DEITY – DIVINE BEING – DIVINITY – ALLAH – ALMIGHTY – HEAVENLY FATHER – LORD – SUPREME BEING – EFFIGY – IMAGE. So, I can make a selection from that list and fix my somewhat awkward sentence to say, "GOD IS THE SUPREME BEING WHO SPOKE ALL THINGS INTO EXISTENCE FOR HIS DIVINE PLEASURE.” Choices are great!
Life has been defined as the sum total of all of a person’s choices. From the cradle to the grave, we are faced with many important decisions--the choice of friends, the choice of a career, the choice of a college, and a thousand other things. No, we don’t choose to be born or who our parents will be. We don’t choose to die; nor do we choose the circumstances of our death. But as Joseph Epstein stated: "We do choose how we will live: courageously or in cowardice, honorably or dishonorably, with purpose or adrift.
· We decide what is important and what is trivial in life
· We decide what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do
· We decide - We choose
· As we decide and choose, so are our lives formed
· We make our choices and then our choices make us
· Our choices produce acts which produce character
· Character eventually becomes permanent
This morning, we are going to consider life’s greatest choice. As important as the choice of vocation - education, even the choice of a mate may be, none of these are the greatest choice of all. Life’s greatest choice has to do with our relationship with God. That choice is made first of all when you come to grips with one question: “What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” This is life’s greatest choice because it doesn’t just affect us in this lifetime -- it affects us for eternity.
I want you to notice some things about this choice. First, it is a choice every person has to make. The verb "choose" is an imperative. It is a command that cannot be avoided. Remember that Joshua was a military commander. He was accustomed to giving orders and having people respond immediately. In this passage of scripture, he is not making a request that the people can accept or reject. He is giving an order. They have no choice at this particular time but to choose. They must decide.
The people of Israel were required to make a choice. They were summoned to Joshua and he recited for them the history of God’s dealing with them beginning with Abraham and continuing through the bondage of Egypt - the Exodus with its trials and set-backs - and to that very moment. God had blessed them – guided them – protected them – provided for them. Now the ball was in their court. How would they choose in reference to God? Joshua set a clear Mandate before them, saying, VS. 14-15 -- “NOW, THEREFORE, FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM IN SINCERITY AND TRUTH; AND PUT AWAY THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED BEYOND THE RIVER AND IN EGYPT, AND SERVE THE LORD. AND IF IT IS DISAGREEABLE IN YOUR SIGHT TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES TODAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE: WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED WHICH WERE BEYOND THE RIVER, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES IN WHOSE LAND YOU ARE LIVING: BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”
Joshua was concerned over the morality and the relationship of his people to God. The laws had already been set out for the people of Israel, but the people had constantly refused to follow them. Now, as his life was coming to an end, Joshua very methodically showed the people of Israel the only possible choices they could make in their relationship with God and the inevitable consequences of those choices. You see, Joshua didn’t have the right or the authority to decide for everyone in Israel. But notice with me, when it came to his family, Joshua offered no choice. He had made the decision - “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The truth is, when people stand for God, others, including our families will respond to the challenge. As Joshua stood before the people of Israel, outlining the responsibility of sincere – joyful - meaningful service to God, he gave evidence of his commitment first. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And as he stood firm against the gods of this world and stood firm for sincere dedicated service to God almighty, an entire nation committed themselves to God. Joshua implies that we can and we must make choices. The plain application we must understand is three-fold:
· People are free and able to make choices. God so ordained it. He did not pre-program us
· People have a responsibility to choose. God will hold us accountable to make intelligent, informed decisions
· People will inevitably make choices. We can’t escape it. No matter which direction we decide to go - we have made some choice in the matter
I believe it was that great Christian Author – Max Lucado who wrote: - because of Calvary, I’m free to choose.
· I choose love - no occasion justifies hatred
· I choose joy - I will invite God to be the God of circumstances
· I choose peace - I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live
· I choose patience - I will overlook the inconveniences of the world
· I choose kindness - I will be kind even to those unkind to me
· I choose goodness - I will go without a dollar before I’ll take a dishonest one
· I will be overlooked before I will boast
· I will confess before I accuse
· I choose faithfulness - today I will keep my promises
· My debtors will not regret their trust
· My associates will not question my word
· My wife will not question my love
· I choose gentleness - nothing is won by force
· I choose to be gentle
· I choose self-control
Joshua next calls for an exclusive choice. Consider once again what Joshua presents to the Israelites - “PUT AWAY THE GODS YOUR FATHERS SERVED, BUT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE WHETHER YOU WILL SERVE THE GODS BEYOND THE RIVER OR THE AMORITE GODS.” He was not suggesting that they could serve Jehovah and other gods. No! It is either God or gods! Either - or, not both. This exclusive choice can be found sprinkled all throughout the Bible.
· Elijah called for such a decision on Mt. Carmel - I KINGS 18:21 “AND ELIJAH CAME UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLOW HIM: BUT IF BAAL, THAN FOLLOW HIM, AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.” He called for an "either - or" choice, an exclusive choice
· Jesus called for an "either - or" choice - ST. MATTHEW 6:24 “NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON.” He called for an "either - or" choice, an exclusive choice.
We all make exclusive, "either - or" choices.
· We will either be truthful or we will be dishonest
· We will either be generous or we will be selfish
· We will either be dependable or we will be unreliable
· We will either work for a living or we will try to live off of society
· We will either be faithful in our marriage covenant or we will be adulterous
· We will either serve Jesus or we will not!
++++Joshua also expresses the urgency of the call. “Choose you this day.” Can you hear the urgency in that Proclamation! You don’t have time to wait until tomorrow – next week – next Sunday – Mother’s day – Easter – Christmas Sunday. You must make a decision today. The great Evangelical Preacher – D.L. Moody wrote it was on October 8, 1871 - that he had just finished preaching a sermon. At his conclusion he said “I wish you would seriously consider this subject, for next Sunday we will speak about the Cross, and at that time I’ll inquire, ‘What will you do with Jesus?”
As the closing hymn was being sung that evening, little did anyone know that these words would be the last ever heard in that huge hall. Even as they were being sung, the soloist’s voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of clanging bells in the street. That was the night of the great Chicago fire which almost destroyed the entire city. Among the hundreds who died were some who earlier had been in Moody’s audience. The evangelist was greatly distressed by this and lamented his tragic error in not asking men and women to receive the Lord that evening.
We, too, must decide, we must make an exclusive choice, and it is urgent. But one more point becomes clear in this text. This is a personal choice. “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.” Your husband can’t choose for you; your wife can’t choose for you; your parents can’t make the decision for you. You, personally, will decide about Jesus. You, personally, will stand before God to give account of your decision. Choose. Choose today. Choose today for yourself. Choose today for yourself whom you will serve!
-- In closing, The story is told,
-- Satan once called together the emissaries of hell, and told them he wanted to send one to earth to aid men and women in the destruction of their souls. He asked who would volunteer.
-- One came forward. Satan asked, "What will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I WILL TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NO HEAVEN." Satan responded, "They will not believe you, for there is a bit of heaven in every human heart. And in the end everyone knows that right and good must have the victory. You may not go."
-- Another came forward, darker and more foul than the first. "If I send you," Satan asked, "what will you tell them." "I WILL TELL THEM THERE IS NO HELL." Satan looked at him with contempt and said, "They will not believe you for in every human heart there is a conscience, an inner voice that says good will triumph and evil will be defeated. You may not go."
-- One last creature came forward, darkest of them all. And Satan said to him, "And if I send you, what will you say to women and men to aid in the destruction of their souls?" And he said, "I WILL TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NO HURRY." And Satan said, "GO."
-- A Today Only Offer
-- Have you made a choice?
-- What are you waiting for?
-- Do you think that you have time?
-- We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds our Tomorrow’s
-- A Today Only Offer
-- What will you do with this Jesus?
-- Have you heard someone whisper in your ear that you have time – no hurry?
-- I can’t speak for tomorrow - Oh, how I wish I could
-- I would like to tell you that it is alright, you don’t have to give your life today
-- I would like to tell you to go home and think about it
-- I would like to tell you to give me a call in a few days with your decision
-- What I present you with is a today only offer
-- Just like those Resounding Bells on that Cold Chicago Night
-- Choose you this day!
-- I HEAR THE SAVIOR SAY, THY STRENGTH IN DEED IS SMALL -- CHILD OF WEAKNESS, WATCH AND PRAY - FIND IN ME THINE ALL IN ALL
JESUS PAID IT ALL, ALL TO HIM I OWE; SIN HAD LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN, HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW
(Close)
