Have you ever started a project fully gung-ho and as it wore on your eyes started to change? I mean change as in seeing the project differently? When you started you were ready to do every single aspect to perfection but as you became fully aware of just how long and difficult the project was turning out to be, you started to think about cutting some corners or maybe even skipping a few small things along the way. You know, to speed things up. I’m rather guilty of this. I tell Margie that I enjoy the celebration of the completion so much that I just expedite my journey to get there. Sure, I’ve been known to cut a few corners to get there but at least I got there right? Speaking of, some others never do get there. Some people’s eyes just overwhelm them halfway through the job and they decide to take a break. One day turns to a week, a week to a month, and before you know you it you’ve got a half-finished project that has been hanging around so long you've given it a name.
Joshua chapter 16 presents just such a picture for us today. Recall that when God carefully instructed Moses, Joshua and all of the Israelites of their tactics in taking over the Promised Land, it had one specific caveat that was as clear as crystal.
“However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.” Deut 20:16-18
Many people including myself have struggled with this command from God, especially as a new Christian. Why would God command such a thing? I mean if God is a true God of love wouldn’t he want everyone to live? Folks, think about this as a parent. You love your kids, more than anything. (most times) Out of that abundant, deep, pure love do you allow them to do anything they want? Do you in this great love allow them to recklessly defy you and openly show disobedience to you and your rules? I would sure hope not. Out of your tremendous love for them you know that through discipline and correction and even harsh judgment at times, you have a hope of training them to be responsible, respectful, humble, honest men and women. You, as a parent and a student of life, know that if you stumble through life only selfishly seeking what you want, that it can and will get bad very quickly.
You see, God had patiently given the people within the Promised Land (Canaan) 430 years to hear Him, adhere to His commands and obey His statutes. But not only did they ignore Him, but they absolutely rejected Him. In fact, it’s almost as if they read the 10 commandments and then reversed all of them. They worshiped other Gods, they had many false idols, they did not observe the sabbath, they murdered their children by sacrifices, they committed adultery and gross sexual immorality, they did not respect their parents and they blasphemed Almighty God. As a result of their reckless disobedience and outright defiance, God judged them.
You know in this same vein, no one on this planet today can recklessly defy God’s judgement. We might lament these poor Canaanites that were destroyed, but do you know how many people die every day that have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ and suffer God's judgement? It was no different for the Canaanites than it is for someone today that refuses to believe that Jesus is who He says He is. The price of rejecting God is still death…spiritual death. You see, Jesus offers eternal spiritual life, but rejection of Jesus equals eternal spiritual separation from God in hell. Blatant disobedience has dire consequences in this life. With parents you’ll get spanked or grounded. At work you’ll get written up and eventually fired. In marriage it will cost you the relationship and possibly end in divorce. And with God it will cost you eternity with Him in Heaven.
Back to finishing the race. Out of every single tribe of Israel do you know how many were successful in fulfilling God’s command of completely destroying all the people in their lands? Zero. Nada. Not one single one. They all failed. God was clear that the reasoning for this was to eliminate all of the false religion, idol worship and ungodly customs that were rampant in the land. So guess what happens as the Israelites allowed some of the foreign people to remain and live amongst them? Yep, they once again fall back into idol worship, false gods and wicked customs. We’re told in Joshua chapter 16 this morning about the tribe of Ephraim’s failure to clear their land.
“However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.” Joshua 16:10
Question. How do you truly view the commands of God today that are laid out in His Word? Do you view them as vague recommendations? Do you view them as open to your own personal interpretation? That you can use your own wisdom to convert them to fit your lifestyle? Do you view them as completely antiquated and useless as they relate to 2020? Do you view them as the absolute Word of God, that they are all to be taken literally and followed no matter the cost? You see, how you truly view the Word of God will directly determine how you finish the race. If you don’t believe that God’s Word is accurate, truthful and good, you will only complete the parts you believe in and you will leave the rest. Just like a buffet, you will shop God’s Word, pick out what you like and leave what you don’t like.
In fact, this buffet idea pretty much describes our world today. I want to be good, but I also want to do whatever I want. How do you view sex outside of marriage? Do you know that God’s Word forbids it? Do you agree with God or does your personal interpretation allow you to have sex with whomever you please? Do you know that God says don’t be a drunkard? That means don’t get drunk. I read that as a result of the Corona quarantine that alcohol consumption in the home has gone up 55%. Do you believe that God has this law in place for a good reason or do you “soften up” God’s Word on this so that you can drink to your desire? Do you know that God says the love of money is the root of all evil? Do you covet money and all the stuff it will buy? Big houses in the right zip code, flashy sports cars that make people look in your direction and so much stuff that your house is bursting to hold it all?
Folks, God tells us it’s not about the race, it’s about finishing the race. It’s not about the running, it’s about the finish line. It’s not about just this life, it’s about living this life by God’s statutes and living it that way for the entirety. It’s about finishing the race in obedience to God. If you are struggling today with obedience to God, the time to right the ship is today. God is full of mercy and grace and is so ready to forgive you. Admit your sins to God and ask for His forgiveness. Repent of those sins and move in the direction of God. Correct your course and let God's Word be your compass. It’s never too late, it’s never impossible, it’s never too hard for Jesus.
No matter where you may be on the race course today, the finish line is still up ahead, focus on the finish. Focus on Jesus. Focus on the Word of God. Focus on righteousness before God.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7-8
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