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??If you knew you had only one more day to live, what might be the last things you would want to do？And what would be the most important things you could say to those you know and love？In our Bible lesson today, we'll see what dear old Joshua had to say to the people of Israel before he went to be with the Lord.
??Body：God had brought the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, and He was giving them the land of Canaan for their new homeland. Joshua 11：19 says, "There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the inhabitants of Gibeon：all the others they took in battle." And Joshua 10：42 says, "And all these kings and their land did Joshua take because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel."
??The Lord had promised Joshua victory if he would serve the Lord. Joshua had made up his mind before he ever began to lead Israel that he WOULD serve the Lord! Joshua 11：15 says, "Joshua left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses." It must have pleased the Lord greatly to see a man who was so obedient! As Joshua won battle after battle, he saw the reward of that obedience! But now we go to Joshua 23 to hear some final words from dear old Joshua. Verse 2 begins：??"And Joshua called for all Israel, "and said unto them, "I am old and you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that has fought for you. Be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses." Joshua warned the people that, as they continued to battle, they should be careful to love the Lord and obey His commandments, and to keep away from idols.
??In Joshua 23：14 we read, "And, this day I am going the way of all the earth：" Joshua spoke these words with no fear of dying. He was ready to die because he knew what would happen to him after he died. Do you know what will happen to you after you die？God's Word says in Hebrews 9：27, ？" it is appointed unto men once to die, ？" Who makes that appointment for everyone？The same God Who created the world and everyone in it! The true and living God Who loves you and knows everything about you, also knows the day you will die. When you die, God wants very much to take you to His wonderful home in Heaven forever. There is no dying in Heaven! Does everyone go to Heaven when they die？No. You and I were born with a sin nature, and sin cannot be in Heaven. Can you remember from our other lessons what sin is？it's breaking God's laws. it's choosing to serve ourselves instead of the Lord. it's living for pleasure instead of obeying the Lord's commandments. Romans 3：12 says ？" there is none that does good, no, not one." That means you can never do enough good things to get to Heaven. But God loves you and He wants you to be with Him forever. You and I could never make a way to go to Heaven, but God could! He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to make a way for us to go to Heaven. Jesus came down from Heaven to this old sinful earth to take our punishment for sin. Hebrews 4：15 says the Lord Jesus'was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 5：8-9 tell us, ？" he suffered; And became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; ？The Lord Jesus suffered great pain, cursing, and then death as wicked men nailed him to a wooden cross. But Jesus loved us and willingly suffered for our sin. The 3rd day after the Lord Jesus died, He came alive again, and later went to Heaven. When you believe on the Lord Jesus, He will save you from the eternal punishment of sin. When you have His eternal salvation, you will go to Heaven when you die! Can you say right now that you know where you will go when you die？??Joshua knew that when he died, he would go to be with the Lord Whom He had loved and served for all these years. But Joshua wanted to be sure that, after he died, the people of Israel would continue to love and serve the Lord. He said, (Joshua 24：14) "Now..fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and truth：15) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." And Joshua DID serve the Lord all the days of his life, and he knew it was worth it! He urged the people of Israel to continue to serve the Lord.
??Joshua 24 says, "And the people said unto Joshua, "The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey." 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 has heard all the words."
??Then, at 110 years old, after a life of faithful service to his Lord, dear Joshua died. But where did Joshua go when he died'so where is he right now？What do you think Joshua would tell you if he were here today？Exactly what he told the people of Israel in
??Joshua 24：15："Choose you this day whom you will serve; …but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
