road2answers

Our world opposes God. The theory of evolution attempts to explain our existence apart from God.  Science cannot explain many things, and our world is okay with that as long as the explanation does not involve God.  This is true when we try to explain consciousness, our thoughts and whether we have a soul.  This is true when we try to understand what life is.  It is glaringly obvious when we try to discuss origins and how to teach origins in our public schools. This is not new.  Thousands of years ago, the Psalmist wrote: 1 Why are the nations so angry?  Why do they waste their time with futile plans?  2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.  (Psalm 2:1-2) [i] What happens in the public arena also happens in our private lives.  There are people and situations that oppose the knowledge of God in our lives.  There are attitudes and habits within us that oppose the knowledge of God in our lives. 

Joshua 3 and 4 Life is full of transitions. One day you are single.  The next day you are married. One day you are a high school senior.  The next day you are a high school graduate. One day you are in your mother’s womb.  The next day you are in diapers. One day you are alive.  The next day you are in heaven or hell. Some transitions are beyond our control.  An auto accident can change a life in a single moment.  Sickness and disease can change a life. We prepare and plan for some transitions.  We study for years to get our high school diplomas, our bachelor’s degree or our master’s degree. Once the transition is made, there is no going back.  The change is permanent.  We can long for the past, but it is gone.  We can resent the past, but it cannot be undone.  We can wish we were never born, but here we are.  God is Lord of all our transitions. The crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites is often used as a picture of our transition

Joshua 2 Some battles seem too big for us. Many of us reach an uneasy truce with our battles.  Maybe your battle is with anger.  Maybe your battle is with lust.  Maybe your battle is with envy.  Maybe your battle is with lying.  We all have battles. Jesus has saved us.  We are going to heaven.  However, the battle with sin and victory in this life continues.  We accepted Christ and received new life, but we still struggle with sin. Is the promised land of our salvation just for the future?  Is it just for heaven, or is it for this life and the next?  I believe it is for this life and the next. The things that happened to Israel are an example for us.  As the Children of Israel were to enter into the Promised Land, so, we too, are to enter into our promised land.  Hebrews 4:1 calls it entering into his rest when it says, “God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.” [i]   A

Read Joshua 1 The day had finally arrived. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness living in tents, eating Manna and wandering.  All those who were 20 years old or older at the time of their departure from Egypt had passed away.  40 years before when the Israelites faced this challenge, they had rebelled and refused to face it. We all face big days.  Students will always have big tests to prepare for.  We all have deadlines.  We all look forward with anticipation to important events.  How do we face the challenges of life?  Are we overcome with anxiety?  Do we worry and fret? Today we will learn from Joshua how God has designed for us to face life. The short answer is faith.  God tells us to trust Him.  Joshua is an example of trusting God.  He trusted God for the timing.  He trusted God for the assignment.  Finally, he trusted God for the strength. First, He trusted God for the timing. Joshua 1:1-2 says: 1 After the death of Moses the LORD’