DEFINING MOMENTS 
Joshua 24:14-16 
 

 There is a growing trend in America to see everyone as victims who are not responsible for their actions. As a result, we tend not to see where we were wrong, but instead look around for someone else to blame for our behavior. Charles Colson writes that we have changed from acknowledging that we are a sinner to whining that we are a victim. 
 

An FBI agent, was fired for embezzling $2000 and using it for gambling. Instead of admitting his guilt and accepting his punishment, he sued the FBI saying that his gambling habit was a handicap protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The amazing thing is that he won his case and the FBI was forced to reinstate him.  
 

Joshua calls the people of Israel together right after they conquer Canaan and take the land. He puts before them the choice of whether they will serve the Lord. It is reminiscent of the words of his predecessor Moses, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Deut 30:19.  
 

I GOD ALLOWS US THE RIGHT OF CHOICE: Joshua said, "Choose you". The choice is up to you. God will not coerce you into serving him. It is up to you. You can accept or reject him. Satan would have men serve him of coercion, but our Lord has given you the choice! 
 

Illus: There are all sorts of ways to make decisions. A wife found a list on her husband’s desk one fall. It was entitled: THINGS TO DO BEFORE WINTER SETS IN… 
Install Franklin fireplace & Chop firewood, Check weather-stripping & Clean furnace, Clean and repair snow blower & Replace broken storm window   OR  Get out of Alaska

Application: It was up to him, and its up to you! 
 
III.THE RECORD OF CHOICE: It has always been life or death, blessings or cursings. 
A.Adam and Eve Chose Death, Gen 3 
B.Annanias and Saphirra Chose Death, Acts 5 
 
IV.READINESS Of CHOICE: "Choose you THIS DAY." Today is the day to choose. Now is the time to get ready. 
Heb 3:7-13 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

Conclusion: The story is told, - Satan once called together the emissaries of hell, and told them he wanted to send one to earth to aid men and women in the destruction of their souls. He asked who would volunteer.  
 
-- One came forward. Satan asked, "What will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I WILL TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NO HEAVEN." Satan responded, "They will not believe you, for there is a bit of heaven in every human heart. And in the end everyone knows that right and good must have the victory. You may not go."  
 
-- Another came forward, darker and more foul than the first. "If I send you," Satan asked, "what will you tell them." "I WILL TELL THEM THERE IS NO HELL." Satan looked at him with contempt and said, "They will not believe you for in every human heart there is a conscience, an inner voice that says good will triumph and evil will be defeated. You may not go."  
 
-- One last creature came forward, darkest of them all. And Satan said to him, "And if I send you, what will you say to women and men to aid in the destruction of their souls?" And he said, "I WILL TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NO HURRY." And Satan said, "GO."