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KNOWING OUR IDENTITY:
CITIZENS OF THE ALTERNATIVE KINGDOM

Joshua 24:13-18

Introduction

I had never been there before, and I'm not sure if I'll return, but somehow I had agreed to go this time. Everybody had been talking about this unique activity at a place called Laserworld. It was one of those favorite places for kids, sometimes even grown-up kids. Since this event was going to be one of those family and friend experiences, I went along, not quite knowing what to expect.

We were all taken into a small, square, dark room. Once inside this room, we were surrounded by 25 or 30 other people--all of them being five- and six-year-olds who had gathered for a birthday party. As the young college student responsible for our group began to give us the instructions for the game we were about to play, I wondered why I had agreed to play. But it was too late now, so I continued on.

Pointing to what looked like a small garage door, the young man explained that in just a few moments the door would begin to rise. He went on to tell us that as the door would rise, we would see smoke pouring forth from inside along with bright, flashing lights. He also told us that we would hear the music playing just inside. Smoke, lights, and music was the world into which we would soon be going. Finally, he told us that as soon as the door began to rise, we were to enter into the playing field and spend the next 10 minutes flashing our lasers at everyone else. When our laser would hit another person, we would accumulate points, and the person with the most points would be the winner of the game. I thought to myself, "This seems pretty simple; it's just a modern-day version of the old child's game of freeze tag."

However, as the young man continued to give the rules, I realized that this game was going to be a little more intense than my childhood games of freeze tag. For those persons who had played this game at other places, he explained that unlike many other laser tag games, here there would be no teams. In his words, "In this game, it is every man and woman for himself and herself." He went on to say, "Here, you play hard, you play tough, and you play to win. There are no second and third place winners; you either win it all or nothing!" With these words, the group of five- and six-year-olds burst into cheers and applause. I grew increasingly intimidated the longer I stayed in the room.
Soon the garage door began to rise. Sure enough, I could hear the beat of the music; I saw the smoke pouring out from the room into which we would soon be entering; bright lights of all colors were flashing on and off just like the young man had promised. In a matter of just a few seconds, most of the kids were lost in the smoke and began to play the game. It seemed that everyone was comfortable with the rules to this game, all except for one little guy. As I was about to enter the game myself, I overheard a conversation between two brothers, one about five years old, the other about seven.
Tears were pouring out of the younger boy's eyes. In his crying, I heard him say to his older brother, "But, Johnny, I've never played the game this way. I've always been on a team. Maybe you and I could be on a team together; we just won't tell anyone else."
The older brother responded, "Grow up, Andy; get with the program. This is the real world we're talking about. You heard what the guy said, 'In this game, you play hard, you play tough, and you play to win.'" The younger brother continued to cry. Pleading with his older brother, he said, "But, Johnny, it doesn't have to be that way. We can play the game another way."

As the older boy continued to nudge his younger brother closer and closer to the garage door, the bright lights, the smoke, and the pounding music, the younger brother made one more attempt, as he exclaimed, "But, Johnny, it doesn't have to be that way! Together . . ." Suddenly, without the younger boy ever completing his sentence, the two brothers disappeared into the smoke. They, too, were caught up in the flashing lights, the beating music, and the primary rule of the game: "It's every man and woman for himself and herself!" In a matter of seconds, I was amazed at what I saw inside. The younger brother who had so desperately wanted to play the game another way had very quickly learned the rules of this game. Darting in and out of the pathways just inside, he had discovered that in order to win this game, he would have to play by the rules of Laserworld: "Every man and woman for himself and herself." Indeed, he was playing hard, playing tough, and playing to win. He knew what it would take to win in this world, and so he quickly began to abide by the rules of the game.

As I saw the brothers disappear into the smoke, I continued to wonder just what the younger brother was going to say: "Together . . ." what? I also continued to hear the echo of the older brother's words, "Get with the program, Andy. This is the real world we're talking about. In this world, you play hard, you play tough, and you play to win!"

Move One--The Dilemma of the Text

In our text today, a similar garage door is about to open for our ancestors as they prepare to live life in the land of Canaan, the land that God had promised them over 500 years earlier. As they prepare to enter into this strange, new world, the instructions for success in Canaan were very clear and similar to the instructions as Laserworld: "In this land, you're going to have to get with the program. In this land, you play hard, you play tough, and you play to win! This is the 'real world' now, and here, indeed, 'Every man and every woman must accomplish life for himself and herself.'"

As they prepared to settle in Canaan, our ancestors faced a dilemma much more complex than a child's game of laser tag, however. They were facing the issue of survival--getting food on the table, providing shelter for their family, and living through just one more day. The world in which they were settling made it very clear to them what survival would take: "If you're going to have life, you're going to have to accomplish it for yourself! It's up to you. Indeed, it is every man for himself and every woman for herself. You play hard! You play tough! You play to win!"

For our ancestors, this way of living often went by names such as baalism or idolatry, systems that could be manipulated and used to get the necessary things for life--basic necessities such as food and water--and sometimes even abundance. Whatever name it might go by, this way of life in Canaan understood life as something that must be accomplished and earned. Good performance in acts of worship, manipulation of divine power through religious duties, and the purchase of blessings through sacrifices would ultimately give whatever was needed whenever it was needed. An appropriate motto for this way of living in Canaan would be something like, "If it is going to be, it is up to me!" The gods of Canaan may be the ones who finally send the rain, who make the crops grow, and who bless the people with abundance, but ultimately the one who manipulated those gods was not another god but a human being--me! Therefore, I'll play hard; I'll play tough; and I'll play to win, because in the end, life is up to how well I perform, what I can accomplish, and how much I can achieve!

Names and practices change over time, but the heart of the dilemma for the people of God just hasn't changed at all. Certainly, a god named Baal or an idol cast of silver and gold will not be a great challenge for any of us this week. However, for all of us gathered in this worship service today, acknowledging through our songs and prayers that God is the one who has redeemed us and saved us, Monday morning will soon arrive. And as it does, the garage door will rise, the smoke will pour out, the beat of the music will play, the lights will flash--and we all know what the rules are for survival. Whether it be the workplace, the school, the neighborhood, or sometimes even the church, the rules just don't seem to change: "Play hard, play tough, and play to win!" "If it's going to be, it's up to me!" "In this game, it's every man and woman for himself and herself." From the earliest years of our lives, we have been trained to live life according to the rules of Canaan. We've been brainwashed from the day we were born that when we put the quarter in and turn the knob, the goodies of life will come pouring out. Therefore, to get the goodies, we spend life putting the quarters in and turning the knob as hard as we can.

Move Two--The Answer in the Text: Remember Who You Are

It is into the midst of this dominant mind-set that the words of Joshua explode into the lives of the people of God both then and today. Knowing that the garage door will soon be opening and that the smoke, the lights, the sounds of the dominant worldview will dictate every action and decision of the people of God, Joshua exclaims to the people: "It doesn't have to be that way. There is another way to see life and to live life! These are the rules of Canaan; these are the way the Canaanites live. But you are not Canaanites. You belong to a different world; you belong to a different God! You are the people of the Lord. Therefore, whatever you do, as you settle in the land whose dominant worldview tells you how to play according to their rules, don't forget who are!"
Joshua continues, "You are not people who have gained life through performance, accomplishment, and achievement. No! You are instead the graced, the blessed, and the gifted children of God!" You did not arrive on this side of the Jordan River and inherit the land by your strengths and through your accomplishments. You arrived here by the power of God, and you received the land by the work of God!"

Look with me at the way in which Joshua's challenge to the people begins in the opening 13 verses of chapter 24. Speaking on behalf of the Lord, Joshua declares: "I took your father Abraham . . . I gave him Isaac . . . I gave Jacob and Esau . . . I sent Moses and Aaron . . . I plagued Egypt . . . I brought you out . . . I brought your ancestors from Egypt . . . your eyes saw what I did to Egypt . . . I brought you to the land of the Amorites . . . I handed them over to you . . . I destroyed them before you . . . I rescued you out of Balaam's hand . . . I handed the Amorites, Perizites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites over to you . . . I gave you a land on which you had not labored and towns that you had not built." Repeatedly Joshua reminds the people of their unique identity. Over and over again, we hear God say through Joshua, "I . . . I . . . I!" The people of God are citizens not of the Canaanite world that would tell them "If it is going to be, it is up to me" or "Play hard, play tough, and play to win" or "In the real world, it is every man for himself." Rather, the people of God are citizens of an alternative kingdom, the kingdom of God, a kingdom that is built upon the gracious activity of God. A kingdom whose citizens know that their identity rests not upon what they can achieve but upon what God has already achieved and is continuing to achieve.
Perhaps, the most significant words that the people of God could hear as they began to settle in the land of Canaan was a reminder of their identity--who and whose they are. How easy it would be to allow the bright lights and thick smoke of Canaan's world to blind them to the reality that they belonged to another kingdom. How easy it would be for the deafening instructions of Canaan's rules to silence the gentle reminder that they are citizens of an alternative world--the kingdom of God.

Now, 3,000 years after Joshua and our earliest ancestors, the same smoke continues to pour forth, the same music continues to play, and the same lights continue to flash from the dominant world all around us. It still says to persons of all generations: "Get with the program; this is the real world, and in this world, it is every man and woman for himself and herself; if it's going to be, it's up to me." The lights can still blind us; the smoke can still blur our vision; the music can still deafen our ears. But as the people of God have gathered here today, the ancient words of Joshua break into the bright lights, the thick smoke, and the deafening music all around us. We hear him say to us today, "It doesn't have to be that way. There is another way. Don't forget who you are. You are not citizens of this world; you belong to another kingdom, another way--the kingdom of God. Your very identity is not based on what you have produced and achieved but is based upon the gracious work of God in your life."

Move Three--The Challenge of the Text: Be Who You Already Are

Reminded of our unique identity, we, the people of God, are now called to the great challenge to which the people of God have been called in every generation since Joshua (24:14): "Now, therefore (based upon our identity as the graced, blessed, and gifted people of God), be completely and undividedly the people of God." Joshua's challenge is not merely that we honor and serve the Lord but that we do so completely, fully, undivided. To serve the Lord in sincerity and faithfulness is to serve Him wholly (completely) and with integrity (honesty) of heart.

Knowing the daily challenges that the people of God face in the dominant world of Canaan, Joshua calls the people to be--fully and completely--who they already are: the graced, blessed, and gifted people of God. He calls them out of the divided mind-set that would say, "Indeed, the Lord saved us from the Egyptians, but Baal will now make it rain" or the split allegiance that would declare, "Certainly, the Lord delivered us from our enemies, but Baal will now make our crops grow."

Why would we, the people of God, have one foot in a world that says, "God saves and delivers," while keeping another foot in a world that says, "But Baal will now provide the everyday stuff of life?" The call that now comes is very similar to that of Elijah in a later generation (1 Kings 18:21*): "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." It also points to the call of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:24-25, 33): "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. . . . But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Joshua declares: "Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served . . . or the gods of the Amorites . . . but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).

The call of Joshua to every generation since his own has been, "Let the God who saved you yesterday be the God who continues to save you today. Let the God of whom you testify to His gracious deliverance be the God of the everyday! Be fully who you already are--the graced, blessed, and gifted people of God!"

Conclusion--Response to the Text: Put Away and Serve

Reminded of who we are and challenged to be fully who we are, the people of God are ultimately called to decisive action--to act upon their identity--to respond responsibly to the grace of God! How? In a two-sided manner. On the one hand, whatever gods, whatever systems, to which we hold allegiance, we are called to abandon them, to cast them away. Whatever systems in which we have been placing our trust for the everyday stuff of life, we are called decisively to abandon those gods.

On the other hand, we are called to be fully the people of God--to serve Him in "honest wholeness" (sincerity and faithfulness). In our serving the Lord wholly, we are not serving a new God. Instead, we are living out what we have been called to be from the beginning--the people of God who trust the God who has saved, saves, and will continue to save His people.

I can still hear the words of laser tag that day. I hear the young man as he gave the instructions, "In this game, it is every man and woman for himself and herself. Here you play hard, you play tough, and you play to win." I hear the older brother, "Get with the program, man. This is the real world we're talking about. Grow up." But I also hear the younger brother, "But it doesn't have to be that way. There is another way to do it. Together . . ."

For many of us, that garage door to what our society calls the real world is already opened wide; the smoke is pouring out; the lights are flashing; the music is beating. We know the rules of that world: gain, accomplish, achieve, perform. However, as we have gathered for worship today, we have been reminded of who we are. We are indeed the graced, the blessed, and the gifted people of God. Based upon who we are, we are called to be, fully and undividedly, the graced, blessed, gifted people of God. Perhaps today we continue to hold on to the systems, the gods, the programs of Canaan that promise to give us life. This day, today, based upon the reality that God and God alone graciously provides life, deliverance, and hope, we are invited to cast away those systems, those gods, and those programs. Even more, we are called to be fully, wholly, completely what God has created us to be--the graced, the blessed, and the gifted people of God!
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*Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.