{"id":162,"date":"2021-09-29T22:14:15","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T22:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=162"},"modified":"2021-09-29T22:14:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T22:14:22","slug":"choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=162","title":{"rendered":"Choices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cNow, 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.  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.\u201d  (Joshua 24:14-15, NASB)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This passage is part of Joshua’s Farewell Address to the Israelites just prior to his death.  He challenges them to choose between worshiping worthless idols or the one true God Who had delivered their nation from slavery in Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, and through the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula to a point on the east bank of the Jordan River opposite the city of Jericho.  God had told Moses he would not cross into the Promised Land, but would instead die where he was.  God then commissioned Joshua, and tasked him with leading Israel into their Homeland.  Joshua then led God’s people across the Jordan and subsequently to conquest (God actually did the conquering!) of a large portion of the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hebrews had a problem with idol worship, and this would continue to cause them trouble through the years.  Inanimate objects of metal, wood or stone, fashioned by the hands of men, couldn’t deliver them from trouble, let alone provide salvation.  Yet they would worship these idols instead of the living God, Who could do all these things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Joshua’s Farewell Address,” artist unknown
Joshua was a true leader.\u00a0 In his address, he reminded the people of all they had been through, cautioned them against idol worship, then told them his choice:\u00a0 He would follow the one true living God!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We face the same choice today.\u00a0 An “idol” may be defined as something that takes too much of our attention away from God.\u00a0 It could be something we’d regard as harmless, like television or baseball.\u00a0 But if we don’t spend enough time with God, our distraction might be idolatry.\u00a0\u00a0
I identify with one author who also has ALS.\u00a0 While he would prefer not to have ALS, he feels the experience has drawn him closer to God.\u00a0 And he wouldn’t trade that for anything!\u00a0 I find my circumstances allow for more time with time with God, whether through Bible study or prayer.\u00a0 Precious time indeed!\u00a0\u00a0As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
Worship:\u00a0 “You are Holy,” Paul Wilbur, ft. Joshua Aaron<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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