Joshua 23:6-10 - Therefore, be very
strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning
aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that
you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of
the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to
them, but you shall cling to the Lord your
God just as you have done to this day. For the Lord has
driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has
been able to stand before you to this day. One man
of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who
fights for you, just as he promised you.
Joshua had grown old….he knew his time of passing was near…so
he took some of his last breaths to remind these people that God had chosen of
all God had done. He wanted to tell them
one last time to be strong…courageous…faithful…even passionate about the one
true God that had given them alone a great land. There were still many people in the land that
did not believe or worship Yahweh. If they were allowed to stay among them…it
would weaken their faith...cause them to fall away from God’s law.
The world has approximately 4,300 religions…according to the
quick answer on reference.com. Christianity has approximately 2 billion
and Islam 1.3 to 1.5 billion believers… but a close second is Islam with about
1.3. And let’s not forget to include those
that do not believe in any deity….around 1.1 billion people identify as
agnostics, atheists, nonreligious or other secular views.
I am thankful that Jesus came to fulfill the law…and did away
with the need to drive out all these other religions. I would have had a hard
time with all the killing and destruction the Israelites were asked to do to
clear these other religions out of their land. He made a way for all nations…all
people…to hear about the one true God and make a choice to follow him. He pushed
the consequences of non-belief all the way to the end of time…so everyone could
hear the truth and make a decision on their own.
It creates a sort of ‘pickle’ for those that believe in God…you
know…that baseball situation where a runner gets trapped between bases. God
opening up the world to make their own choices about who to worship puts all of
those that believe in him surrounded by other beliefs. We can let them weaken
our faith…as Joshua warned about….or we can use what God has done for us to
share the truth with others. God wants
us to remember one thing about that process though. We are called to share only…we cannot control
others choices.
Think about that part of Joshua’s speech where he told them...
“One man of you puts to flight a thousand.” That would be a great goal
for all of us…to actively search out 1000 lost people that desperately need the
gift of salvation that Jesus made possible for all. I am sure that I haven’t
reached that number yet.
Father…thank you for the reminder that because you allowed
your son to die on the cross to save me…all people have access to your great
love. Forgive me for the times that I
take for granted my salvation…and do not actively search for ways to share your
truth and love with the lost and confused around me. Help me to focus on you so
closely that I hear every prompt to share with another…using all the perfect
words that only you can give me to touch their heart and help them understand
your gospel. Amen.
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