Judges 2: 6-15  (To read this text in the New Living Translation, click here)
After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.  And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.  Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord , died at the age of 110. They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.

The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight and served the images of Baal.  They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord. They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.  This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.  Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.

I have this thought to share with you this morning --- too many people think that the Bible is obsolete and outdated.  They believe that since it was written thousands of years ago, it does not have any bearing in today's world.  I want to assure you that God's Word is a living word.  It does not get old, and it does not have pages of outdated literature.  Therefore, when we read of something that took place in the Old Testament, we should not dismiss it as being for a different people or a different time.  The entire word of God is real.  We would be well served to pour ourselves back into the "Word of God" so that the "God of the Word" would bless us today.

We read about a scene that happened after the Children of Israel entered into the Land of Promise.  Moses had died without entering the Promised land and Joshua had become the people's leader.  Joshua let them go to the land god had promised Abraham many years before.

Something curious happened after Joshua and the elders died.  Scripture reads that the people forsook the Lord.  As long as there was a Godly man in position, the people heeded to the voice of the Lord; but when there was no Godly person in control the people would perish.  Soon they began to worship other gods.  Before long a generation died.  I wonder how close we are to a dead generation!  Are we the only generation close to God on this earth and are we about to lose our next generation?  Some say, "No; it can't happen that way.  We have too many Bibles and too many churches.  This can't be the generation that forsakes the Lord!"  I have sad news for you -- we have already started the process.  It will not happen over night and it may not fully happen in our lifetime; but, if the United States of America continues to go down the slithery slump we are on now, we will soon see the last generation who knows God.

If this is the last generation that knows God, then what?

• The first thing that happens is the people forsake God.  The children of Israel didn't forget God; they abandoned God.  They abandoned obedience; they abandoned righteousness; and they abandoned the will of God.  When people abandon God they will run to other things to fill that void spot in their lives.  They will seek drugs, alcohol, and unrighteous living.  Yet, they will never find anything to fill that unique void until they return to the Lord.  I have to ask this question, "How long will God allow a generation to continue if they have abandoned His will?"

• The second thing that happens is people try to omit God.  Today our government is trying in every way to omit God from our nation.  God is no longer allowed in the federal buildings throughout this land.  People are no longer allowed to pray openly at sports events or graduations.  Our schools are no longer starting their day with a text read from the Bible.  Now people are trying to take God's name out of our Pledge of Allegiance.  On our currency is written, "In God We Trust."  Have you seen the new gold dollar coins?  "In God We Trust" is written around the rim of that dollar in small letters that are hard to find.  Where does a coin start to wear first?  You got it -- around the rim.  The Washington Monument went through some renovations and remodeling recently and guess what?  They "forgot" to put the word God back on the monument.  How convenient is that?

• The third thing that happens is people try to replace God.  Why is it that no one gets in an uproar when the Muslim faith is mentioned in school or at events?  Truth is people don't care who you worship as long as it isn't the true God.  In the last five years we have seen wave after wave after wave of nuts trying to disprove the Bible.  If they can disprove the Bible, they can disprove God; if they can disprove God they can disprove His Son Jesus.  There are thousands of religions and they all would have you believe they are the right way to get to God.  But God says, "I am a jealous God."  Read Exodus 20:1-7.  You cannot replace God.  He must either be your one true God or no God at all.

You say, "Preacher, I agree that people are trying to replace God, but what do we do?"  Joshua 24:14-15 has the answer: Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and 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.  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.

The way of the cross came with a cost.  However, the debt to pay is no longer mine.  It was paid for me through the blood of the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  He paid it all.  There is no other way except through the Lord Jesus Christ.  As for me and my house, we WILL serve the Lord.

JR. Fields, Pastor
June 22, 2008

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 This page last updated: 07/05/08