“Ye are witness against Yourselves”...the Wayfarer 3/22/14

“Ye are witness against Yourselves”
  3/22/14

“And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

(Joshua 24:19:22)

Today’s opening is a little longer in scripture than normal, simply to keep in context just what those who were, and are, witnesses against themselves, were, and are, witnessing to.

The end of the book of Joshua, describes a new beginning for Israel. It also describes a covenant that was given to that people through Joshua; one of many broken by that people over the following days months, years and times.

Israel was finally in the Promised Land, finally had reached the goal set by God, and relayed by Moses. It was only after years of struggle and failure along the way that that goal was finally reached.

As Joshua came to his own last days, after having led that people through much of that struggle, he anticipated the failures, still more struggles yet to come, also recognizing the fallibility and failures of human beings inevitably seeking to find things not intended for them, while deserting God’s intent, and God’s promised blessing.

That anticipation came to fruition many times through the history of this chosen people as they “progressed” and attempted to prosper, after forgetting all the covenants given, both to man and God, time after time reaping the sorrow that came with that failure to remain committed to the one covenant given them.

To assure that the memory of that covenant was continued, never to be forgotten, Joshua left the people a reminder of what they committed to that day, by leaving a memorial set in stone, that was to be that constant reminder.

“Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and ordinance in Shechem.

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.

And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.”

(Joshua 24:23-27)

That memorial was intended to be forever a reminder that God was in control, God was giving the blessings given, God was to be both honored and feared, and was observing the people when in accordance with that covenant, and when they would fail to honor it as well.

Joshua spelled out in clear language the requirements for being that chosen people, and what was to be expected should that people forget that they were indeed chosen.

This brings me to another people, another set of laws, another covenant established to be set forever in place that would allow that people to both remember and follow a covenant established for them, as a protection of another of God’s people.

This one was not written in stone, but was put on paper, many copies distributed, and many memorials made in bronze and other materials to assure its continuation.

 Alongside that particular document, once more God’s laws were placed for observance, again in stone, for all to see and remember.

Again warnings were given of what to expect should that document, the new laws given or the old laws that guided them, ever be forgotten.

Today, both that document to which I refer, and the laws established by God are held in disdain by a people, who intentionally choose to pervert a covenant that established a new people, intended also to receive the blessings of that same God, the holy and jealous God that was the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and yes the same God of those chosen to establish that new people and nation.

Despite the warnings of the wrath of God, despite the warnings of those having the foresight long ago who realized that there would always be those attempting to pervert both the laws of God, and the laws of that document…A people have again forgotten those laws and are chasing false gods, false premises of what was established, and well on the path to facing the wrath of God for that perversion and the attempt to supplant both sets of laws given, with those  that are in denial of everything intended for them in the way of blessings given, only through that same HOLY, JEALOUS and WRATHFUL GOD  whose forgiveness is being withdrawn as they make their “progress”.

The very mention of that God produces immediate and loud complaint… produces a flurry of activity in the courts that once proudly displayed that “old” law; denouncing those who would still follow that law, established by GOD, not man.

Any open compliance with those laws is derided by those seeking to destroy that old, and indestructible, law. Abomination is instead honored in its place. Science is touted above that law. Markers of remembrance are forcibly removed in the name of equality, and by means of perversion of the laws intended to protect both the remembrances, and the rights of those honoring them, through the interpretation of those laws, in a means perverted to honor State above God… State above God’s people… State above family…and is honoring State above everything both precious, and dear to God himself.

The covenants made are still in effect, both with God, and with man.

Violations of those covenants are still punishable by God, and through men who would continue to honor them.

Old covenants are imperfect; require the constant attention of each nuance of that covenant.

That new covenant given through Christ Jesus requires that same attention to each nuance!

Blessings given by God through both old and new covenants are withdrawn and wrath to be expected in place of them when those covenants are broken.

Each individual is responsible for keeping the provisions of those covenants. It is not the “State” to be held responsible for the failures of compliance, but individuals comprising that state. It is the State that must be held in disdain when it fails to honor God, and its own responsibility to that covenant established!

“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

These words of warning are also a plea that we turn to God, turn to Jesus, turn to the promise of salvation, the promise of eternal life, the promise of blessings both now and yet to come that are unending, and that we turn away from those failing to comply, failing to honor, failing to even acknowledge the very existence of the covenants given, both by God, and through man, and worst of all failing to acknowledge the existence of either God and the power that only He has to provide for temporal and eternal needs and joys promised by those covenants.

Just as Joshua told his people that they were witnesses against themselves, I relay that same admonition to all people who claim to be God’s chosen today. I give the same reminder that God is Holy, Jealous, and unforgiving of those who refuse to comply with what is intended, and chase those false gods, chase “equality” and “justice” when it is perverted to apply to those denying God, and the covenant, they would pervert to their own purposes, to promote abomination and SIN, above both God and the teachings of a Savior come not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

I close; once again, in sincere and humble prayer, that God withhold that wrath which I know is already kindled, that must eventually be loosed upon this and all nations. I pray both humbly and sincerely, that the truly chosen stand in defiance against those denying God and what is given us through His blessings, and particularly the promises given through His Son.

I pray for that boldness exhibited by Joshua, and others, to come to the fore, both within myself and others, to separate the sheep from the goats, expose the goats for what they are, gather the sheep and defend them until the arrival of the Shepherd who will make that final separation of the true flock from the false.

I pray that Godly leadership be blessed, that ungodly be dismissed; destroyed in place; easily seen for what it is… the leadership from God, not to Him. I pray that this and all nations turn to that truly righteous leadership that comes only through my God, that cannot ever deny Him and will not be denied by Him.

I remain the same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in that same God that Joshua honored, with the realization that I only have that grace given in return for the constant promise of that final covenant given, through the sacrifice of my Savior, and only available through the requirement of my own redemption through repentance demanded from all.

I remain also, constantly reminded, that I have no choice but to be the soldier I have been chosen to be, just as another soldier named Joshua had no choice, to be less or more than he was made by God. Like Joshua, I would remind all those still reachable, still teachable who would not become lost for eternity, of the promised blessing, the eternal love, the eternal joy that is ours if accepted; and the wrath incurred, that no forgiveness is to be had if we fail to honor that covenant giving the promise of those blessings. This imperfect, and often unworthy, soldier chooses to recognize, honor, and to proclaim that covenant, both written in stone, and on the hearts of those who honor it. Make your choice, the time comes when it will have been made, and consequences will be demanded and met if the wrong choice is the one taken.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

AMEN and AMEN.
the Wayfarer