Title: A Final Appeal to the People
Text: Josh 24:

In chapter 23 Joshua gave a final address which targeted the key leadership of Israel. In chapter 24 Joshua makes a final appeal targeting the entire nation. It is an appeal to remain faithful to God..

I. Joshua reviews the past 1-13

Not just the immediate past, but to the birth of the nation, the call of Abraham.

God didn't call Abraham because he was a righteous man.

Abraham worshiped other gods - The Lord delivered him.

Because of his faith, the nation has been blessed above all nations

That blessing should not a source of pride, but a source of gratitude.

Josh 24:14-15  "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." (NAS)

The call is made in verse 15 : Choose - A decision that would help end spiritual, intellectual, and moral restlessness that marked so many lives. Of all creation, only man can say yes or no to God. Every person faces this choice.  Our destiny is not determined for us, but it is determined by us. Man's free will is part of God's sovereign will. We have freedom to take which course we choose, but not freedom to determine the end of that choice. God makes clear what he desires, we must choose. Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

This is more than a call to choose faith it is a call to choose to serve. It is a call to choose a complete commitment to God. But the choice is made on historical fact, personal testimony, and faith.

The call of the world is exciting, but the there can be no half heartedness involved in serving God. And it's important to understand that our decisions have not only short term, but long term consequences.

Max Jukes lived in New York. He did not believe in Christ or in Christian training. He refused to take his children to church, even when they asked to go. He has had 1,026 descendants; 300 were sent to prison for an average term of thirteen years; 190 were public prostitutes; 680 were admitted alcoholics. His family, thus far, has cost the state in excess of $420,000. They made no contribution to society.

Jonathan Edwards lived in the same state, at the same time as Jukes. He loved the Lord and saw that his children were in church every Sunday, as he served the Lord to the best of his ability. He has had 929 descendants, and of these 430 were ministers; 86 became university professors; 13 became university presidents; 75 authored good books; 7 were elected to the United States Congress. One was vice president of his nation. His family never cost the state one cent but has contributed immeasurably to the life of plenty in this land today. (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 195.)

I found that in my illustration database. It doesn't say who did the research, so I can't attest to the accuracy of it. But I know from examining my own family, comparing my father's side where my paternal grandparents were not involved in church and my mother's side where her parents were strong Christians that there are similar results.

It shows that how we choose and what we choose makes a difference. Joshua, in this passage. and the New Testament writers issue a similar call to us. A call to place our faith in God through Jesus Christ then follow Him.

That choice involves what I call three demands of discipleship

1. Fear the Lord - The fear Joshua speaks of isn't terror, or horror.  It is reverential fear that makes the Lord the sole object of worship it recognizes who God is - The giver and sustainer of all life

        A. Recognizes God's wisdom - One of the essential attributes of God is His Omniscience, He is all knowing. In light of this knowledge, God's actions are based on all the facts and with proper values.

Rom 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" (NAS)

        B. Recognizes God's power - by Him all things came into being and exist

        C. Recognizes God's truth - I am the truth

        D. Recognizes God's Grace - all have sinned

        E. Recognizes God's Holiness -uniqueness; absolute purity; He is the standard for our moral character and for religious practice.

        F. Recognizes God's justice - true justice, sin has consequences. God is not mocked. The basic for being legally justified is faith in Jesus Christ which is offered to all mankind.

2. Serve Him in sincerity and truth

Follow His will and obey His commandments

Not ritualistically - God doesn't just want us on Sunday

Serve God alone.

Ex 20:3-5 "You shall have no other gods before Me.  "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me," (NAS)

Can't serve two masters

Matt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. . ."(NAS)

Josh 24:16-18 "And the people answered and said, 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.  And the LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.' " (NAS)