We have the freedom to choose. But we must choose wisely, with thought and be willing to stick with our decision.

1. The People's Choice
Joshua 24:14-31
We must learn to make
proper choices in life.

2. Joshua 24:14-15

14 "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in
sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods
which your fathers served on the other side of the
River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it
seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether
the gods which your fathers served that were on
the other side of the River, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord.

3. A REAL Choice

Israel had several options
− Back to old life, before the flood
− Gods of Ammorites
− Serve Jehovah

We have real choices to make

We are not puppets

Free Moral Agents = Free to choose

4. Joshua 24:22

So Joshua said to the people, "You are
witnesses against yourselves that you have
chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve
Him." And they said, "We are witnesses!"

You have to think it through

Think of the consequences

Witness against yourself

5. A RESPONSIBLE Choice

Joshua does a double-check

Are you really ready to give up pagan gods
and practices?

Are you fully ready to serve Jehovah and
ONLY serve Him?

6. Joshua 24:23-24

23 "Now therefore," he said, "put away the
foreign gods which are among you, and
incline your heart to the Lord God of
Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua,
"The Lord our God we will serve, and His
voice we will obey!"

7. A REPENTANT Choice

Before you decide – know the results

Think about the consequences

Are you ready to make that step?

8. Joshua 24:27-28

27 And Joshua said to all the people,
"Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us,
for it has heard all the words of the Lord
which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be
a witness to you, lest you deny your God."
28 So Joshua let the people depart, each
to his own inheritance.

9. A RECORDED Choice

Many make decisions – keep it a secret
− If we fail or change our minds
− No one knows

This choice was public – recorded

Wedding ring is the “rock” of marriage

10. A RECORDED Choice

This is not a movie – happy ending
− Israel does not ride into the sunset
− Fairy tale – live happily ever after

Joshua died

Book of Judges – A cycle of sin

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no
king in Israel; everyone did what was right
in his own eyes.

11. Joshua 24:31

Israel served the Lord all the days of
Joshua, and all the days of the elders who
outlived Joshua, who had known all the
works of the Lord which He had done for
Israel.

How long did their choice last?

One generation!

12. A PERMANENT Choice

Revelation 2:10b Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.

Remember the rock as a witness?

Rocks last a long time!

13. We have choices

Work – change jobs?

Family – marry, children?

Location – Where to live, move

Simple – Burger King or Wendy's

14. We have choices

Temptation – Resist the temptations

Temperament – Who makes you mad?

Spiritual – Will we obey God?
− Do I believe in Jesus and want to serve
Him?
− Do I want to obey His commands?