Imagine with me this morning that the President of the United States is addressing the nation. Not just any president, but imagine that under this President, our country has won the GREATEST battles and seen victory after victory. In addition, imagine that this president has the heart of the entire nation. That is the backstory of Joshua 23 and 24. Joshua is one of the greatest leaders that the children of Israel have or will ever know. He was there during the exodus from Egypt, he saw the Red Sea parted, and he was with them when the manna and quail fell from the sky. In addition, this man Joshua was one of the 12 original spies sent to search the land of Canaan. He was second in command to Moses, and then, when Moses passed from the scene, Joshua was the leader who brought them into the promised land. Under his leadership, Israel has been victorious in the Promised Land. Now, at the end of his life, Joshua assembles all the people, leaders, and families, and he has one last message for them. In his farewell message, Joshua is telling the Children of Israel how to live in Victory in the Promised Land. I would like us to note that the promised land is a picture of the Victorious Christian life. Let’s look at what Joshua told the children of Israel and how it can apply to Christians today. 

First, I see that in order for the children of Israel to be victorious in the Promised Land, they had to hear God’s CALLING Joshua 24:14 says, “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.” God is CALLING the children of Israel to live a certain way! Does he not do that for you and me, as well? II Corinthians 6:17 says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” If you and I are going to live in the Promised Land, we are going to have to hear the CALL from God. A call to live right, a call to live holy, a call to live differently from the world 

Secondly, after we hear the CALLING, we are given a CHOICE! Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” but I love the phrase at the end of the verse that says, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua had already decided that no matter what the other Israelites chose to do, HE WAS GOING TO SERVE THE LORD! You and I cannot make a decision based upon what our Pastor decides, what our church thinks, or what your family believes. If you and I are ever going to live a VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE, it has to be because we choose on our own; we make the decision on our own that “I AM GOING TO CHOOSE TO SERVE GOD.” 

Lastly, I see that when we hear the CALL from God and then CHOOSE TO serve Him, then we enter into this covenant that God promised to the children of Israel. This is not a promise that there will be NO BATTLES; He does not promise that the Christian life will be easy; however, in those BATTLES when we choose Christ, He does promise that we will have victory. Are you and I living the Victorious Christian life today? 

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Robert Simmons, C Ministry Director

Robert Simmons works on the faculty of Golden State Baptist College. He is the College Bus Ministry Director and the Men’s Dorm Supervisor.