There is a phenomenon happening right now during the coronavirus crisis that we must not miss. God is systematically stripping away every idol we worship—and He’s doing it all across the world.
Taken away from us are our gods of sports, entertainment, health, wealth, position, and power. One by one, we find that the things we looked to for life and meaning suddenly gone, stripped away by a marauding army of germs we can’t even see.
This microscopic horde is no respecter of persons. Neither the wealthiest nor the poorest are immune. Senators in the halls of government can fall, as can the clerk at the nearest grocery store.
Money can’t buy deliverance, nor can position or human power. We have always been powerless, but this moment is reminding us of our frailty in no uncertain terms.
The Gods We Worship
It has always been our great dilemma. From the beginning of time right up to this hour, we have wrestled between which gods we will serve. We have been tempted since the garden of Eden to choose any alternative to the Lord God Himself.
And we have bitten hard and fast at the Enemy’s bait. He is unconcerned about which god we follow, just as long as we do not follow the one true Jehovah God.
Like doubting Adam and Eve, we believe Satan’s lies and turn from one false god to another.
But through the mist, particularly in times of crisis, we see humble men and women who have found God Himself. And their peace is disturbing to some and revealing to all.
Joshua was such a man. Right before his death, the godly leader warned his nation of this continual temptation and the clear choice they were facing:
“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-15 NASB).
Joshua understood. He saw it clearly. The people had been following false gods, and they would continually be tempted to compromise their devotion to the one true God. He outlined with stunning clarity the choice before them and called them to a response.
The Gods We Serve
The great reality is, whatever god you choose, you will ultimately serve. “Choose for yourself whom you will serve,” Joshua thundered.
This is not a statement of opinion but of universal fact. If you think that money can save you, for instance, and you put your trust there, you will find yourself serving this god.
You will live for it, thinking about it constantly. You will look to it for your salvation, vainly thinking it can provide the security you need. You will be afraid when you see it slipping away. When it goes, your security goes.
To serve something is to give it time, attention, focus, and devotion. It would be wise for us to understand right now the depth of devotion we have given to false gods and how useless they really are. They never deliver what they promise. And if we cannot see this now, when will we?
The Lord God
But it would also be wise to compare every god to Jehovah God. Standing away from and opposed to every god man can imagine is the Lord Himself.
There is no other true God. He is the sovereign King of heaven and earth. Nothing can touch Him; nothing can stop Him. When He determines a direction, nothing can interfere with His movement. No virus can destroy Him, no enemy can overcome Him.
This is why God can make such sweeping promises through human history. He can deliver on His word, for there is no one greater.
Joshua saw this. For most of his life, he had understood that there was one God worth following. His life had been a long devotion in the right direction.
And on his deathbed, he came to remind the people of the certainty of his choice. “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD,” he announced with settled conviction.
The strength of his challenge was the compelling illustration of his own life. Not swayed by false claims of false gods, his gaze shot through the humanistic fog and turned upward.
He would not turn aside to the vendors along the road. His mind was convinced, his heart set.
And the people had seen the wisdom of this choice over decades of faithfulness—both his and God’s.
Your Choice
We are not standing within earshot of Joshua, but we can hear his timeless voice ringing in our souls right now. We must listen carefully.
Our land and our people are being reminded of the choice once again. Whether or not we will fully turn to God will be seen by what happens when this momentary crisis ends.
Will we run right back to our idols, or will we have learned that there is only one God worth serving? And will we choose Him?
Father, You alone are the one true God, and there is no other. Forgive us for our pathetic devotion to gods of our own making. How foolish! Give us the grace to see You for who You are, and to fall down in absolute, settled surrender to You. In this climactic moment of decision around the world, may You usher millions into Your kingdom, and may we never return to the false deities of this world.
Bill Elliff has written one very powerful article filled with poignant truth. I especially love the reference to Joshua and the steadfastness of his commitment to the One True God through all the times of crisis he faced in his life.
Oh, that America and the world would wake up to the answer we have in the living God not the idols we seem to fall prey to when there is no crisis. I am reminded of the little chorus that says it all”Jesus is the answer for the world today. Above Him there is no other, Jesus is the way.”
Amen! Thank you for speaking the truth boldly and in love! God is calling us back to Himself. Thank You Jesus!!!
Outstanding and sobering reminders of our present reality. God help us! God saved us from our sins and ourselves. Thanks for an outstanding article.
My brothers and sisters as we continue to live through the greatest Pandemic in modern times we can have a Bible based hope in God’s eternal unchanging word. 1 Thess. 4:16-18 is the hope of every believer. Jesus is still coming for HIS bride the church!:)
Chaplain Ron
//k9forchrist.org/ron-leonard
Thank you for this timely message and reminder of ONE TRUE GOD.
The best commentary I have read thus far during this crisis. Though believers, my wife and I have been convicted of allowing our trust and dependence on God to have been compromised over the years due to the distractions which surround us in our western culture. We are now praying together daily and seeking opportunities to encourage others and share the hope that is within us: eternal security, joy and peace is only possible by faith in Christ alone and thankfulness for His grace and mercy!
Thank you…… Just the question I was asking myself this morning.
God is working His plan.
Wendy
Thank you for this powerful and important article with a timely, vital, biblical perspective. The women of our church just finished studying the book of Joshua in February (17 weeks); I’m grateful for this spiritual muscle-building which reminded us of God’s sovereign kingship, faithfulness to His promises, and providence — and the enticement/danger of serving other gods. “Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass” (Josh. 21:45).
Father God I thank you for what you are doing in our lives. Thank you for your patience in my life. Thank you that you saw me unknowingly consumed with my idols. Thank you that now, because of your grace and mercy, I am committed to what was said about Joshua: A long life of devotion in the right direction! Continue Your Will, I pray!
Soooo good & sooo true. May YOU draw many to yourself for salvation & eternal life with Jesus, including many of my family, friends, coworkers & neighbors!
Thank you for being truthful.Life action has always been at the forefront of presenting
undeniable truth. The work you have done in America has been Superlative. I read your daily devotion everyday and have for 20 years or more. I am always challenged by your truth
Well said and God directed!!! Yes, I think God is attempting to get our attention. May this be a time we, as Christians, heed His call and seek individual and corporate revival. Then as we get right before God, may we see a global spiritual awakening!! Praise to God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit!!!
I so appreciate that beautiful Word from God to the church.
I see the church in the message Jesus gave about the Prodigal son.
The older son stayed home with the Father, but he never knew him. He worked for the Father from sun up to sun down. He never knew the Father’s wealth. He never knew his Father’s wealth belonged to him. All he knew was working for his Father.
Are we making gods of our works? This is so subtle, so delicate, so difficult to analyze.
So many programs, missions etc. etc.
I just know the Holy Spirit is grieved. Jesus is standing outside the door of the Church knocking!!
We continue our programs, we can do this without His Manifested Presence.
We are the Laodicean Church. O God, Have mercy upon us.
I am an 87 year old woman. My heart breaks. Please keep encouraging us.