ADVICE FROM THE ELDERS

Josh .23:1-3

There are some of us that have been blessed to have older people in our life that can save us a lot of heartache "if we listen." I was blessed to work around some older men and I would hear some of them say: I wish I had done if different. Some would say: Don't make the same mistake as I have made. Others have said: If I only had it to do over I would never have done it that way.

Joshua recognized he was old and stricken in age so there came the time for him to tell all Israel to remember what the Lord had done for them.

I'm sure Joshua would have those moments when he would say "you know I remember back when" we crossed the Jordan on dry land. When the enemies of God would flee because they had heard how God gave us the victory.

There were some sad moments like the time when Achan's and his family lost their lives because of sin. Read  the 7th chapter of Joshua and see what sin did to the whole family. Joshua said "you have seen" all that the Lord has done. When you and I have seen first hand what the Lord has done for us no one needs to remind us. Many of us have seen first hand what Jesus has done in our lives or a family member's life.

The apostle Paul came to the time that he was to go the way of all the world. He tells us in II Tim. 4:6-8: The time of my departure is at hand. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day. Paul had helped Timothy to avoid a lot of heartaches.

He told him in I Tim. 1:4 not to listen to fables, endless genealogies, some have swerved and turned to vain jangling. Some wanted to be teachers of the law when they did not understand what they were talking about. In 1:15 he tells him about a faithful saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 6:12, He advised Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.

Paul tells us in II Tim. 2:12: If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

There are many today that have advice for others, so let me offer a little of mine. First of all and above all things, be sure you have had a personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, the life, the door that leads to eternal life. Serve him while you are young for the day comes when each of us will need him and I know he will never leave us.

As Joshua looked back on his life, I'm sure there were some very proud moments of memories he had.

Today you and I have the opportunity to build some memories for the day we can look back with pleasure and say there was the time we felt the Lord was leading us to do thus and thus and we did what we felt he was leading us to do and now we see the results of obeying his leadership.

Friend if the Lord is leading you to get involved in your church life please do so and you will know the blessings of obeying.