"But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.”” — Joshua 24:19
Exposition:
Christian life is not an easy
road. It is difficult, nay, impossible to become even a Christian. It is God
who made us Christians, and it is God who helps us live our Christian life. In
the Old Testament, the Israelites were distinctly called the people of God. In
the New Testament, Christians are the people of God, comprising both Jews and
Gentiles. This verse clearly demonstrates the impossibility of pleasing God in our
strength.
Joshua was a towering leader
of the Israelites and was about to die soon. He wanted to leave a legacy of a
life lived for God. His last influence he wanted to impart them was to “be
jealous for God.” He gathered all the tribes of Israel and preached a powerful
sermon—on how God chose them, delivered them, fought for them, and made them
prosper—and exhorted them to serve God faithfully. In a climactic and dramatic
way, he declared that he and his family chose to serve God, and gave an
unmistakably persuasive choice to serve either idols or God.
The exuberant response from
them was to follow Joshua in following God. Joshua had to explain what it means
to become the people of a holy, jealous, and consuming God. The word
"cannot" is not a prohibition. Joshua was not even discouraging them.
Rather, he wanted them to be for real. Like any euphoric crowd, there were lots
of unconverted, unknowledgeable, and swayed people. They will not be able to
serve God just because they had expressed their desire.
The desire to serve and the
ability to serve are not the same things. They should turn away from idols. They
would have to repent of their sins and live a holy life. They should fear God
and be devoted to Him alone. And they were not able to do so, and therefore God
took them into exile a thousand years later. Indeed, it is difficult to follow
God, because sin is deceitfully sweet and temporarily satisfying.
Furthermore, Joshua, being a
man of God, anointed by God, knew that the ability to serve God comes from God.
It was God who chose them in the beginning, and it was God who was leading
them, and it is only God who will lead them to the destination. Even with God's
leading, they rebelled and went astray, and many had died of plagues, serpents,
and wars. Without God's help, it is impossible (unable) to live a God-pleasing
life.
This is also true for us who
are Christians now. God made us alive while we were dead in sin (Eph.2:1). It
is God who has enabled us to become Christians (John 1:12). It is God who
empowers us to live a Christian life (Phil. 2:13; Gal.2:20). We cannot do
anything without God. We aren't even Christians without God. Do you think you
are a Christian because you are doing what the rest of the Christians seem to
be doing? Are you thinking you can serve God when you are settled or retired
with a fat salary; or are you planning to? I fear that you are like the crowd
of Israelites. Would you ask God, "O God, am I even saved? Save me. Make
me a Christian. Make me live a life that pleases You!"
Whosoever believes that Jesus
died for his sins and rose from the dead to save him, and turns away from a
sinful life, and pursues to live a righteous life is a Christian. It takes
faith in Jesus to be saved. It takes faith in Jesus to please God. Without
faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb.11:6). Would you put your trust in
Christ for salvation, assurance, and to live a Christian life?
Personal Reflection:
- Have I been living like I
own my life when actually Christ has owned me?
- Have I always thanked God
for whatever God-pleasing things I have done, and asked God’s forgiveness
for all my shameful ways?
Personal Commitment:
- To renounce all idols, so
as to have a clear conscience before God and man.
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord, for Your great Salvation. Thank You for making me a Christian. Help me to pursue a life that pleases You, a holy, jealous and, consuming God. Increase in me a fear of You, Amen!