We must consider our record with God. He is keeping a record on each of us, a book of remembrance. At the judgment it will be among the books that are opened. Think of this in reverse. Do you feel God owes you anything? Is there an instance when God failed you? In fact the opposite is true. We have failed God. Can any of us say God never failed me…except this one time….?
Joshua got to the brink of the Promised Land and his job was to lead the children of Israel to victory. It took him a lifetime to fulfill God’s will. You don’t do that in a little while. It does take a lifetime. There is no retirement from this conflict. Until our dying day God will have a will for us. Joshua was at the end of his journey. He was preparing for death. God was going to rule Israel with judges after that. Joshua had been the commander and chief as he led the army.
Consider how good God has been to us. How is that record? If you want a job you’ll have to fill out an application; the prospective employer will check out your record. You may have a pretty good one. God has a proven record. We have personal experience with him and know this record is true. When we hear what others say we know many times and in how many ways God has come through. It’s good to take a personal examination. We might have something that deep down we think God has failed in. The devil can take that one misstep and wreck a person’s faith. If we blame God for one little thing we think should have happened or happened differently, it will jump up and get us. If you have prayed for something and you didn’t get what you wanted, rest assured God didn’t fail. It was not his will.
Israel was facing a new future. Joshua made a crucial statement.
Joshua 23:14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
See the wisdom in this passage. He said look at the record book. Before you think of your own faithfulness, consider God’s. Is God fallible? Has he shortchanged you? Has he exaggerated? We cannot judge God on how pleased we are with what he has done. So, has God failed you? This is a revival question! Joshua said that deep down we know that not one thing has failed. He didn’t want to fight all his life but Israel had to fight for every inch of ground. God never failed Joshua and he told the people that God had never failed them, not in one thing.
Consider your life. Who wants to share some things God has provided. (The congregation spoke out listing many things on a personal level that God has given: life, love, salvation, water, food, a house, a car, freedom to come to church, ability to exercise, friends and more.)
God knows best. The Bible tells us his ways are past finding out. At the end of his life, David knew that because of his sin things in his family had gone differently that he would have planned, but he said he would still give God thanks. God has a good record.
How is your record with him? God loves me far more than I have loved him. He has come through for me way more than I have for him. It keeps us dependent on him. I could sure be better to him because he’s been so good to me. So, let’s look at that verse again.
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 