As For Me and My House: Joshua 24

Well there is no surprise at all at the blatant paganism, agnosticism, humanism, and biblical illiteracy. I read a stat the other day that said that 75% of America was in the Lost category. When you hear stats like that, you can understand why our country is headed in the direction it's going. I even heard on the radio today, in the context of talking about Iran and nuclear weapons, one guy saying to let them have it and do what they want with them. That Amidenijad is a good leader. Now, this is a guy in America saying something so idiotic! Obviously he knows nothing about history of the Middle East or of the Jews as well as knows nothing about the eschatological/end time beliefs of the Muslims, Jews, or even Christians.

Our government is slowly taking the place of the church with all of these entitlement programs. Instead of running to the church where hurting people are suppose to run, they have been slowly and even now sprinting towards the government to solve all of their life's problems and ailments. This is going to lead our country even more down the road of paganism, idolatry, moral decay, and atheism. If you don't believe me, begin to look at countries whose government controls everything. If you take a look at Western Europe they are some of the most paganistic and atheistic people on the planet. That is some of the toughest soil for the Gospel to be planted on. No matter how noble the government tries to be and even claims to be, they are slowly taking the place of God in the heart and lives of people. When people hurt, they will no longer call on God, but the government to bail them out. Even the public school system will continue to standardize our children to death, where we we abolish in them the creative mind to think and come to a conclusion on their own. The schools will have the curriculum of what they want the children to learn. Read C.S. Lewis' book 'The Abolition of Man' if you don't believe me. He is spot on.

So, what am I getting at painting this bleak picture? The same thing Joshua in Joshua 24 said, "Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (emphasis mine)

That is exactly the attitude and heart we, as believers, need to embrace in the 21st Century. With everything going on around us, we need to dig our heels in and place our feet on the solid rock and not give in and not give up and stand strong for the Lord. By faithfully serving the Lord we set the tone for those wishy-washy believers. If you read the end of Joshua and the first couple of chapters in Judges you find that Israel served and followed the Lord as long as Joshua and his elders/leaders was alive. After they died Israel begin to fall away from following the Lord. So what if believers today begin to, like I said, embrace this attitude and mentality that they will serve the Lord no matter what! Not serve our interest or even the interest of others, but we would serve God and what He has said. I have a filling that the impact would begin to spread throughout our churches. Many of these churches would be resurrected. This would lead to the church in North America beginning to truly impact the 75% who are considered lost.

Father may we be strong and courageous as we make a bold stand for you in a generation who, by in large has no regard for you. Give us the strength we need. Spirit of God fill us up that we might live according to the commandments and holiness of God. May people see us and see our good works and glorify you on the day of visitation. Thank you for salvation!