14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)
Many people I have met in my lifetime have surrendered themselves to a belief of mere existence. There is a reluctant acceptance of the idolatry of the world all around them. Their purpose, or so they believe, is to make it through yet another day. Allowing for society to dictate the norms and values of the day, and just being comfortable and going with the flow, these people choose an existence rather than vibrant and full life that God has created us to live. This, in my personal opinion, may be one of the worst ‘cancers’ and destructive forces that Satan has been using to cripple the ‘Christians’ and the ‘church’ of today!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2
While it is not the most popular opinion, I believe that is is clearly laid out in Scripture for all believers that we must daily choose to follow, serve, surrender, and seek God and His will! Joshua declared it to the people of Israel (This is not just a nice Bible story, but rather a historical encounter.) that they had to choose for themselves THIS DAY whom they would serve. The world around them (and around us) could be quite tempting and enticing. But to choose to serve other gods and idols was and is to choose to serve death and destruction.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. — Deuteronomy 30: 19-20
Moses, in this passage above, gives one of the greatest speeches and uses a call to the people that I can NOT ever forget. Every day I am challenged and reminded… “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…” The Word of God is clear that Jesus Christ is life… Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” —John 14:6… We have to be intentional to choose life, to choose to follow and serve God. We should NOT settle for the counterfeit that Satan and the world without God try to force upon us. God is calling us to a land of milk and honey, not watered down, chemically enhanced lactose nor some chemically enhanced sweetener. Let’s not settle for the counterfeit, but choose real life and really live fully and freely for the glory of God!
Being “Christian” is not a badge or some free gift… It is an intentional lifestyle of choosing each day to follow and serve Jesus! It is not about choosing the values, norms, idols, and ways of the world around us, nor even our own selfish desires, but rather submitting ourselves to the Lordship and authority of Jesus Christ to have control and direction of our thoughts, words, and ways each and every day! It is walking in a love relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior AND Lord, where we follow His example and say (and live out)… “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” —Matthew 26:39… Choosing life is to choose God’s will over our own!
So you and I have an intentional choice to make today (and every day)… Who or what will we serve… Ourselves, the values, norms, and ways of this broken and deceived world, mere existence, or True Life? God’s will or my own will? Today, and everyday, I choose Life! I choose Jesus! I choose His will over my own!! May the ‘Christians’ of today rise up; walking the narrow path of sacrifice and service to the King of kings and Lord of lords… intentional choosing Life, and living!!
