Untitled Sermon (26)

A Different Season for Israel

Joshua 23:1–3 (ESV)

A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years. And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you.

This is a new season for the people of God. There are no battles, no threats, and no conflicts. Up to this point all our texts have been in the middle of conflict and battle. We have seen how Joshua and the people responded in times of stress, and how God met their needs. But now the nation has gotten through and taken possession of the land that was promised to them.

They had seen God rescue them and deliver them, and now they were living beyond their time of battle and crisis; and it seems like maybe they had slid into some bad habits and tendencies. What were they? We are not sure. Some commentators think it might have been that people had began to inner marry with people outside Israel and brought in new customs and false gods into the nation. Some think that they had gotten complacent and were turning back to the sins of the flesh that set them apart from other nations.

Not a call of repentance, but a call to Faithfulness

One of the things that I find interesting about this passage is how it is often used in our current context. I have heard this passage preached on quite a few times in my life, and a few of those times I have heard it used as a plea for people to accept Jesus. Maybe you have experienced this same thing. I have heard and seen pastors and preachers stand in front of a room of non-Christians and preach this text and lay out the choice of serving God to the people in attendance.

But I think it is important to note Joshua’ audience that day- he is not calling on the people of the world, his is not a call to those far off from God- his is a call to the church. He is not calling for the lost to repent, but for the found to remain faithful. He calls for the people of God to continue with their commitment to Christ.

You see, a call to repentance is the call to change, to redirect, and to align our lives with God. We need calls of repentance in our lives. But the call to faithfulness is something different. The call to faithfulness is the encouragement to continue in the new found life.

Altar calls.

There is something amazing about an altar call. We do not do this every week, but we will have Sundays when we encourage folks to come to the altar and pray.

But you know what is another beautiful sight? An altar call when no one responds. Here’s what I mean.

Like many of you, I grew up in church. I was in church every Sunday and in Youth Group every Wednesday night. And I have said half tongue in cheek and half serious a few times that I was saved every Wednesday night between 1998-2003 in the WHCOB youth room. Here’s what I mean by that.

I had an amazing youth pastor, who was gifted in preaching and teaching the Word. So much so that it was almost like clockwork- every Wednesday he would preach, I would remember my failure to live as a Christian and be reminded of my sin and wrong and go to the altar. Then, I would return to life, I would go to school and be sucked back into the world around me. I would give into temptation, give into sin, and abandon the repentance that I had just made a few days before.

The next Wednesday- wash, rinse, repeat.

Then one day I read this verse… 2 Peter 1:10 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

What if God wants something bigger for us than coming to the altar every week? What if he wants us to live lives of faithfulness that empower us to walk in faithfulness?

Peter’s call is for us to be diligent to confirm our call and election. Let’s unpack that for a moment.

Be diligent he says- Greek word σπουδάζω- (Spoo-dah-zoh) which carries this meaning of eagerness. When I researched this word a bit the image that played in my head was a group of kids when someone says “who wants ice cream?” and all the hands shoot up and chatter - ME ME ME!!

We should jump at the chance to confirm our election and calling...

Confirm- Greek βέβαιος- be-bye-ohh- means to validate. Like presenting your parking ticket upon exiting the parking deck- prove you have been where you say you’ve been.

Your election and calling- anyone here been elected or called by God today? I hope that is all of us.

The call is to eagerly confirm the work of God in your life in any moment you can! Take every chance to show it!