You May Delay But Time Will Not
“YOU MAY DELAY, BUT TIME WILL NOT”
*Text: Joshua 24:1-28 (Read text 1-5, 13-15)
Date: October 21, 2007
Intro: These were exciting times for the people of Israel. They had defeated their enemies and claimed the Promised Land. Each of the tribes had received their inheritance and now they could settle down and enjoy life a little. It was a time of hope, prosperity and blessings.
It was also a very dangerous time for these people! There was the danger that they would forget where they came from, how they had gotten to where they were and what the Lord had done for them. There was the danger that they would begin to adopt the idolatrous religion of the Canaanites who still lived around them. There was the danger that they would fall into a state of complacency. A state in which they might feel that they could let down their guard just a little. These were dangerous times for Israel indeed!
In the midst of this situation, Joshua stands up to deliver to the people a challenge from the Lord. God wants them to dedicate themselves to Him and to His work. He does not want them trying to live for Him on the one hand and the gods of Canaan on the other. He wants wholehearted dedication or nothing! That is the clear message of this passage.
I would just remind you that these are dangerous times for the church as well. We are seeing the church develop an appearance that is more and more like that of the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22. A church that has everything it needs, except for the presence, power and glory of God. Just as the Lord issued a call through Joshua, all those centuries ago, for His people to make of their minds as to whom they would serve, so He issues the same call to His people on this day.
I. A TIME OF CONTEMPLATION – v. 1-13
· He wants them to remember who they are, where they came from and what the Lord has done for them.
A. To Contemplate God’s Power in Their Lives (v. 1-12)
· His choosing and call of Israel; His redeeming and deliverance from Egypt; how He manifested His power in their behalf time and again; the victories; the blessings enjoyed.
· Spiritual Application of all the above.
B. To Contemplate God’s Presence In Their Lives (v. 1-12)
· Reminded that God has ever been with them; in everything, He saw them through.
· Spiritual Application of the above
C. To Contemplate God’s Provisions In Their Lives (v. 13)
· Reminded of how they now enjoy the blessings they do not deserve; though under the Law, they are under grace.
· We have much today that we simply do not deserve! Saved (forever), secure (no devil in hell can pry His fingers off of you), and headed to a home in Heaven; in the body of Christ; we are indwelt by His Holy Spirit…we have more than anyone can understand or imagine! God has been so good to us!)
1. In light of these truths, why is it that so many of God’s children seem to have a hard time just simply loving and serving Him.
· But this is nothing new: Israel was guilty of walking out on God even when He had been so good to them, Jer. 2:5-19!
· At times, I wonder if we would not have to admit to the same kind of sin?
· Remember who you are, where you came from and what the Lord has done for you.
II. A TIME OF CONFRONTATION – (v. 14-15)
A. Confronted By a Command
· The Command was three-fold
1) Fear the Lord
a) Today, God deserves to be reverenced, honored, respected, and loved for those He
has redeemed.
2) Put Away other gods
a) All of those things in life that come ahead of the Lord need to be put away.
3) Serve the Lord with sincerity (as a slave…“wholeheartedly”)
a) From the Latin = without wax (Paul’s time, some pottery dealers would take a broken
/ cracked vessel, patch it with wax, allow it to harden, and then paint over it…the imperfect obtain the full price of a perfect vessel. It wasn’t until they used the vessel in their ovens that they wax would melt and they would know they purchased an inferior pot. God wants us to be what we claim to be.
B. Confronted By A Choice (v. 15a)
1. Joshua confronted the people to make a choice of whom they were going to serve.
· Elijah issued the same challenge to people on Mt. Carmel
1) 1 Kings 18:21 “How long halt ye between two opinions?”
· “Either He is in first place or you have a different god.”
· Too many today are just riding the fence…a choice needs to be made.
C. Confronted By A Challenge
1. Joshua “laid down the gauntlet” for the rest….stating his clear intention
· “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord…”
· We need some Joshuas in the church today; set the tone / example to follow.
· Many can give justification for slackness in their lives. We need some who have a backbone of steel and who would rather die that let something come ahead of God.
III. A TIME OF CONSECRATION
A. The Resolve of the People (v. 16-18)
1. After considering the blessings of God, they declare their allegiance to God.
· Is the Lord your choice tonight?
· If He has to compete for your time, your attention, your money and your love, it calls your whole profession into question!
Conc: Don't you think that it's time to make up your mind? If the Lord be God then serve Him. If He isn't, then go ahead and serve whatever has your heart.
“A Christian that refuses to live for the Lord is a poor advertisement for the Lord Jesus Christ! While a life lived in His power and victory is a powerful advertisement indeed! Which are you?”