Joshua knew what the people were going to do when he was gone, they were going to forget the Lord their God and start serving themselves. He had watched along with Caleb for all those years as they were defeated in their desire to enter into the promised land, forty years and little change, on either side.
There comes a time in the lives of some who have been born-again when enough is enough, they tire of the world, they tire of the old man inside of them that just will not die, and they grow weary of those who claim Christ as Lord but do not live for Him. I cannot understand the forty years or more of frustration that Joshua must have felt.
I believe for such as these the end of life here is looked forward to, not because of the limitations of age or the pain or even those years of trouble, but simply because the frustrations become almost too much, for each wicked person there seems to be two that claim Jesus Christ as Lord, but in their hearts, they have never met Him. Both become burdens we do not want to bear after a time. They are not completely our burden of course, but the continuing pressure of the knowledge of their existence cannot be escaped from.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) “You do what you want to do, you always have, and I doubt very much you’re going to change.”
For some who call Him Lord and live not for Him, it is not only the frustration that eats at us, but the fact that they are dishonoring His name, and they don’t even care, their words do not match their actions, and it does not bother them one bit. “And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:8)
Worship services have little worship in them, entertainment and the cares of the world fill that hour or so, the small talk before and after the Sunday morning meeting has little to nothing to do with praising God, and the six days in-between are filled with the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, yet they call themselves children of the Most High.
A changed life is more than a person who no longer drinks or does drugs, it is more than stopping cursing and swearing, it is more than just becoming a good citizen, a good person. It is the beginning of the fear of the Lord, a reverential trust and a hatred of evil, it is speaking His name and the wonders of His glory to all who will listen, reaching out to the lost, walking the path wherever He leads. It is a life lived in repentance each and every moment of everyday, seeking continually His will for His glory.
Far too many live a lie and have prepared excuses for their day of accounting, (Romans 14:12) others are so blind that they do not even realize that they are still lost, their religion and traditions have blinded them to this truth. The best enemy understands that to make you believe he has joined you is the best way to defeat you, and our adversary has used every possible means to help people to think they are indeed of the kingdom, their works are the key. It amazes me to know that some are so blind that they do not even know their own heart. Why fool them when they so easily fool themselves.
