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.” Joshua 24:14-15 Today is called Super Tuesday. It is the election day early in the United States presidential primary season (February or March) when citizens in fifteen states of the US will be voting to select the candidates that will represent their political party in November. Candidates that prevailed on Super Tuesday, tend to be the ones to win the election in November. Most people who go to their polling site to vote have already chosen their candidate, and are affiliated with a political party. However, many people will not vote at all during this election year. For whatever reason, these individuals do not think it is important for them to make their voices heard. Yet they will be affected by the choice that other people will make in one way or another. In today’s text, Joshua is coming to the end of his life and his tenure as the leader of the people of Israel. As one of his final acts in office, he asks the Israelites to choose which God they will serve. However, he made it clear to them that he has chosen the God of Abraham and Isaac. Everyone makes a choice whether to serve God or not. The Bible is simply trying to help us make the right choice. Choosing God has no downside. No one who has ever given their lives to Christ can say they regret it. Whereas we experience hardships in our Christian journey, our decision to live for God is worth any price we may have to pay. When a person walks into a church and give his or her life to Christ it is tantamount to a voter walking into a polling station to vote for his or her preferred candidate. When I walked into my polling station early this morning, I was given a ballot with the name of all the candidates in it. In the same way, the new Christian is given a Bible with all the instructions necessary to live a life of loving union with God. A voter can only choose one candidate in each section on the ballot. If a person chooses two candidates, the computer system will reject the ballot and ask the person to get another ballot to complete. In the same way, a person cannot serve many gods. For the Lord has made it clear that he is a jealous God who does not tolerate any competition. Choosing God means getting rid of every idol in our lives. It is aligning ourselves with the will of the Almighty, and allowing His Holy Spirit to saturate our souls as our steps are ordered by Him. Choosing God does not guarantee a trouble free life. Rather, it offers strength to endure and persevere when the going gets tough. Unfortunately, many Christians think they can choose God and the world at the same time. Like the Israelites in today’s text, many people want to straddle the fence, so to speak, and be fully immersed in the pleasures of the world while trying to serve God. Unfortunately, these people will have to make a choice. Otherwise they will be rejected by God just as the computer rejects the ballot where more than one candidate is chosen for an office. My prayer is that you have already voted for God, and has begun your journey towards heaven as a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, if that is not the case, can I encourage to make Jesus your Lord and Savior so you can be at peace with God. That will undoubtedly be your wisest decision. If you are still unsure about how to vote for God. Just repeat the following prayer with me: Father, I give my life to you as your follower. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord and the Savior of the world. I know I am a sinner. I accept the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And from this day forward, I invite the Holy Spirit to come into my heart so I can become a brand new creature through Christ Jesus.
Congratulations! You are saved.