As the nation of Israel conquered and settled the region of Canaan, Joshua began to sense that his own death was imminent. In Joshua chapter 24, he reminds Israel of God's salvation, and the miracles He performed to deliver their enemies into Israel's hands. Joshua then issues a strange warning to the people in Joshua 24:19-21:
Sadly, Joshua knew that Israel would succumb to the temptation to adopt the religions of the cultures native to the region and provoke the grace of God. In light of what they had personally seen God do, this breach would be inexcusable before God. In Judges 1:19-36, we learn that some of Israel's tribes did not have the faith or resolve to utterly destroy or drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and subdue their inheritances. In some cases, they just avoided certain areas they couldn't conquer or forced the Canaanites to pay tribute. The Angel of the Lord later questions them concerning this trespass:
God also calls all people to holiness today:
The problem is that I am not like that, and neither is anyone I know except Jesus Christ. I can't serve God in holiness because I am not holy! Just as Israel did not completely drive out and destroy evil influence in their territories, there are parts of my life that are still contested. God calls me to root out and destroy anything in my life that stands against God:
Any time we allow sin, idols (not just rock, stone and wood ones), or evil influence to lodge in our lives, we are not following holiness and can't serve a holy God. Finally, let's actively pursue holiness as Paul suggested:
But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD!" Joshua 24:19-21 NKJVHow strange--that God's chosen Israel could not serve Him! Why was that? Joshua said they could not serve a holy God because they were not holy themselves. Here, we learn about God's definition of "holy." It means a pure and undivided love for the living God. It means rejecting anything that God hates and accepting anything God loves. It means to obey all of God's Word, not just the parts we happen to like.
Sadly, Joshua knew that Israel would succumb to the temptation to adopt the religions of the cultures native to the region and provoke the grace of God. In light of what they had personally seen God do, this breach would be inexcusable before God. In Judges 1:19-36, we learn that some of Israel's tribes did not have the faith or resolve to utterly destroy or drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and subdue their inheritances. In some cases, they just avoided certain areas they couldn't conquer or forced the Canaanites to pay tribute. The Angel of the Lord later questions them concerning this trespass:
Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you. And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.' " Judges 2:1-3 NKJVThe consequence of disobedience in this case was a spiritual snare to Israel from this day until the Babylonian Conquest. This adoption of idolatry by God's own people did not fit His definition of "holiness." God is not content to set in a pantheon of rock, metal and wood; He will have no other gods stand in His presence. We easily see the foolishness in this approach, but often our lives resemble a different kind of pantheon.
God also calls all people to holiness today:
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJVIf a person wants to serve God, they must be holy. Peter tells us this starts in the mind, where we decide what we will seek after and place our trust in. Holiness in continued in our actions, where we choose to obey God's Word instead of yielding to our lusts and desires that God has warned us to stay away from. It's completed in a lifestyle of imitating Jesus Christ; that our entire lifestyle aligned with God's will. If we do this, we will be holy--as God is holy.
The problem is that I am not like that, and neither is anyone I know except Jesus Christ. I can't serve God in holiness because I am not holy! Just as Israel did not completely drive out and destroy evil influence in their territories, there are parts of my life that are still contested. God calls me to root out and destroy anything in my life that stands against God:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV
Any time we allow sin, idols (not just rock, stone and wood ones), or evil influence to lodge in our lives, we are not following holiness and can't serve a holy God. Finally, let's actively pursue holiness as Paul suggested:
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:14 NKJV
