Option 4: God alone
"Throw away the
gods…and serve the Lord…As for me
and my household, we will serve the Lord."
"Elijah went before the
people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is
God, follow him.'" 1 Kings 18:21
The final option…has really
been the only option all along. While the others may look promising, they do
nothing to satisfy our thirst. Joshua makes it clear that Yahweh had been
working powerfully among them—redeeming, protecting, guiding, and providing. So
the obvious question for the people to ask of these gods was, "What have
you ever done for us?"
And when we make our own
choice, we should ask ourselves the same. What enduring value has the god of
wealth really brought anyone? Did the gods of pleasure ever deliver true and
lasting happiness? Even just once? Can the gods of sex provide a joy that is
more than that of a passing moment? What have these gods done for us? If
anything they have enslaved us. They have robbed us. They have disappointed us.
Wealth, fame, power,
pleasure, and accomplishment don't provide ultimate fulfillment. God has
brought us all we need. God is the source of our forgiveness, fulfillment,
hope, joy and peace. Until we realize that God has done enough we will continue
to return to other gods.
Look back over your answers
from earlier this week. Can you trace in your life where those gods you
followed have failed you? Can you see a pattern in your life of choosing
poorly?
