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Joshua 24:15
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.
(Story Time)
A great king, Aaron, reigned over a great land and sat upon his throne overlooking his kingdom. He said to himself, "My kingdom is large and there are many people beneath me. The people of this land are happy and they have freedom to believe as their ancestors have taught them. For I myself show no mercy unto the gods of man. I fear the God of Abraham, Isacc and Jacob."
For the king understood that peace in his land came from the people's freedom to freely seek religion. Although, he knew that true peace and prosperity would be found through the One God that brought him into his position, he could not force this people to obey the Laws of God. For this king was made lord over a land that did not belong to his father and it's people did not believe as his people believed.
His people cried out to him, "Lord, where is prosperity? For we see the God you serve is your providor in an unkown land. We too will serve your God and look for peace." So the people of the land spoke with the tongue saying that the God of Aaron is Holy and Righteous.
The king responded to the people of the land, "Understand that my God is the God of Abraham, Isacc and Jacob. For I too, am of a distant land to my God. For he has removed from me my guilt and I have made myself new again. Remove from thy house all the gods of this land and my God will answer your prayers. If any man pray with his mouth and deceive with his heart, he shall be cursed. For any man that pray with his mouth and receive with his heart, he shall be blessed."
And some families did remove broken idols and others did hide away such things in their closets.
In this act, the Lord saw the faith of the people and He sent forth his spirit to conquer the land.
As the seasons changed, a great multitude of people traveled to the gate of this kingdom. The leader of the people spoke to the king saying, "We have traveled far carrying many laborers and much prosperity. We are in search of a land fit for our God. We have heard through the winds that your kingdom is filled with righteous people. Shall we search your houses and discover the true identity of your God?"
The king heard the answer of the Lord and replied, "Search this house and search that house. For in it there shall be no idol formation. As I came to be king, no man had fear of my fears. But this season, these people have cried unto the Lord and have changed their hearts. Search every house and report to me your findings; if any house be unclean, they shall be cursed with a curse of their own god."
And the multitude went forth and did search the land for truth. As the reports came back to the king, many houses were clean and some were defiled. And for the curse of the few, the multitude were ready to leave the land. But the king went before the people and said, "Did you not ask for prosperity and the Lord did send it? Whom of you shall reject these men and their herds for a curse? If any man reject, let it be known that they are unclean. For we did search every house in secret and let no man's labor be known unto his neighbor. Search your hearts now and bring an answer to these men before they leave."
And the people of the land did say in one voice, let these travelers stay amongst us. For all the unclean and unrighteous did speak in this manner for fear that someone might recognize their guilt. And so the traveling multitude did stay among the land and make it their own. And the people did learn from the God of Abraham, Isaacc, and Jacob.
And now the king looked upon his kingdom and said to himself, "This land will no longer live in peace, for some of its people have divided beliefs. These people have invited the God of Jacob into their houses without first removing their idols. It would have been better for them to pray to their own god and suffer for their own foolishness than to pray to God and suffer from his Wrath. For the Lord God is a jealous God and his people should not have any other gods before him. For this sin, these people will perish."
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(The Moral of the story)
We as gentiles have a choice to serve the Lord God. We should not waste time flattering God with false committment to His Word. Many people pray to God, but lean upon the world for an answer.
Today, you should examine your house. If God were to come in and look through your belongings, what would his conclusion be? Is there proof enough to say that this house belongs to a servant of the Lord. Or is there evidence enough to say that this house belongs to god of this world.
If you live an honest life and do not speak to please man, than you will find peace. Live with integrity and do as you speak to do.
Actions speak louder than words. It's time to clean house children.
- Hands On Life
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