Our Greatest Need

 "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 24:15). 

Israel was at a crossroads or should I say, every Israelite was at a

crossroad. Go forward. Go backward. Short-term memories. Long-term memories. Fear. Faith. Forty years of wandering. Seeing an entire generation die. A new thing one step ahead. An old thing one step behind. Decision. A choice. 

It seems that America is at a crossroads or should I say, every American is at a crossroad. Go forward. Go backward. Short-term memories. Long-term memories. Fear. Faith. Wandering. Wondering. Thousands in our world - dead - because of a virus, because of lawlessness, because of power, because of greed, because of politics, because of sin. A new thing one step ahead. An old thing one step behind. Decision. A choice. And I'm not talking about a November election.

Joshua knew what the real choice was. It is the human heart that needs to change, that needs to be decisive about choosing to serve the Lord. And this was not a once and done decision. In the words of Jesus, "If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must deny himself and take up his cross...daily."

I yield at this point to Rev. Dr. Russell DeLong - 

"Our greatest need in America is: 

Not for better legislation but for better legislators
Not for better business but for better businessmen and women

Not for better banking but for better bankers

Not for better farming but for better farmers

Not for better teaching but for better teachers

Not for better preaching but for better preachers. 

A revival of religion that would transform millions of individuals would result in increased justice, goodness, righteousness, and spirituality." (Christ or Chaos, sermon, 1945)

Our greatest need is for Christians to actually follow Christ. 

I am amazed at how many brothers and sisters set following Christ behind their politics or behind their pocketbook or their personal conveniences. Discipleship is an option. Egypt wasn't that bad. Onions. Leeks. Cucumbers. Melons. Garlic. Really bad breath and...oh, yes, that darn slavery thing. The good old days. 

I am amazed at how many brothers and sisters set following Christ behind entertainment and even family. The Amorites aren't really that bad. They ritualistically kill their own children and enslave their neighbors, but...they grow nice wheat and barely for bread and beer. We love inviting them over for parties. 

What America needs...what I need...is to be a better follower of Jesus, a decisive follower of Christ. What I need is to stop looking for the benefits of Egypt and the Amorites...to stop being Switzerland. Egypt was an enemy of God. He decimated her and she has never fully recovered from the plagues or the Red Sea. The Amorites were abominable. So much that they no longer exist as a people. God exterminated them like bugs. The Bible says their stench rose up into His nostrils. 

And Jesus says, "When I come back, will I find faith..." 

I wonder. 

As for me and my family...