A Visit with the Joneses

Carol Jones Saint: Hello, hello there. Come right in to enjoy a special time of family devotions at home sweet home.

I have a question for you right at the beginning of our visit. Whose side are you on? Well, you could say, what are you talking about?

There are many, many issues that we have to take sides on. It might be a political discussion that you're having with some friends and someone will say to you, well, what side are you on anyway? Maybe it's at the school board meeting at school. Or maybe it's an issue at church that's being discussed.

And say in family situations. Did you ever hear an argument going on and someone will say, well, whose side are you on anyway? And so it is that over and over and over again in life, we must continually be making a decision about whose side are you on.

In this particular time of family devotions, we want you to come right in and through music and scripture. We are going to be thinking spiritually. Whose side are you on?

Guest (Male): You'll remember that it was centuries ago when Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, looked out at the people as they had gathered together and we find the words recorded in Joshua 24, beginning with verse 15.

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve. Whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Well, whose side are you on? That's what Joshua is saying. You have to choose.

Whose side are you on? The song asked the question based on this passage of scripture. Who is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the Lord today?

Carol Jones Saint: I want you to hear the words of this great hymn written by a woman. Isn't that amazing? [--Guest (Male)--] Francis Ridley Havergal. [--Carol Jones Saint--] It has such a militant sound and you really don't think of a woman writing a song like this. Listen to these beautiful words.

Guest (Male): Who is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King? Who will be his helpers other lives to bring? Who will leave the world's side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord's side? Who for him will go?

By thy call of mercy, by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side. Savior, we are thine. Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe. But the King's own army none can overflow. Round his standard ranging, victory to secure. For his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.

Joyfully enlisting by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side. Savior, we are thine.

Carol Jones Saint: Do you know that hymn? It's been around for quite a long time and it has some very beautiful words.

Guest (Male): Joshua threw out the decision to the people and he said, choose you this day whom you will serve. But then there could be no doubt concerning his own decision, concerning his choice. For he said, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

And now from far off India, comes a voice singing a gospel song, a folk song from India. Sung by Christians for many, many years in India that allows us to know that here is the sound of one who had made a decision. A decision that says, I have decided. I have decided to follow Jesus. I hope that someone this very moment will make this decision. As you hear this song sang, the words sung in India for years. Will you say it in your heart too?

Guest (Male): I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.

Though no one join me, still I will follow. Though no one join me, still I will follow. Though no one join me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back.

Though world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. No turning back. No turning back.

Guest (Male): History tells us that when Cortez and his followers landed in the New World, they burned their ships and thus eliminated all means of return to the homeland. Quite interesting. I suppose they felt as if the ships were around, it would be entirely too easy to get on board and say, oh, let's go back again.

Carol Jones Saint: As soon as there would be a little bit of trouble or difficulty or hardship.

Guest (Male): But think of it. They burned the ships when they landed in the New World. They had determined to make it through. They had determined to see it through in the New World and the new land. They had determined to establish a new civilization. So they burned their ships and eliminated all means of return to the homeland.

I believe that when we make our choice for Jesus Christ, we too need to sever any anything that binds us to the old life. We need to burn the ships as it were to follow the Lord.

No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 3, verse 13. But this one thing I do. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This one thing I do. Forgetting the things behind, I reached toward the things that are before and pressed toward the mark.

Yes, we have to forget the things behind and we have to determine to follow Jesus Christ.

Carol Jones Saint: Mm-hmm. [--Guest (Male)--] Remember, Jesus said one day, we find the words in Luke 9:62. No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Carol Jones Saint: And of course, that was the trouble with Lot's wife, thousands of years ago. She just had that longing to look back. [--Guest (Male)--] That hankering to look back. [--Carol Jones Saint--] To the old life, right? She wasn't willing to give it up.

Guest (Male): And there are too many disciples today. Too many who make their decisions for Jesus today who set out to serve the Lord, but they do it with reservations. They have secret plans and they they keep bonds that bind them and cords that tie them and boats that will take them back home.

Carol Jones Saint: Oh my. [--Guest (Male)--] This is why I believe it is more important than ever before that we should stress the fact of breaking off with the world, severing the ties that bind and going God's way. This is why I'm very concerned to hear somebody say, oh, I've quit drinking, but he still stops at the corner bar every afternoon after work.

Carol Jones Saint: Mm. [--Guest (Male)--] Ah. There's too much communication there, too easy to go back in the old life. This is why I'm concerned about hearing somebody in show business say, oh yes, I've now given my heart to Jesus, but I still dance in Las Vegas nightclubs every night.

Carol Jones Saint: Mm-hmm. [--Guest (Male)--] You see. This is why I'm concerned about ball players who say, oh, yes, I'm now serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but they still play ball every Sunday.

Carol Jones Saint: Well, remember the commandment that said, come out from among them and be separate.

Guest (Male): Choose you this day whom you will serve. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark. And the words of Jesus, no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Well, Cortez burned the boats that would take him back home. He was determined to make it through in the new land. Somebody else has said, you not only burn the boat, but you have to burn the bridges. [--Carol Jones Saint--] That's right. [--Guest (Male)--] The bridges that would bind you to the old life. I believe it.

There's an old song. It's so old that probably not many of you remember it. In fact, it's so old that nobody else in the family could sing it except me because nobody else remembers it very well. But mom and dad used to sing it a whole lot. You can hardly find it in any books anymore, but it it it expresses the feeling of one who is now following Jesus Christ and has said, every bridge is burned behind me.

Every bridge that would connect to the old life. Every bridge is burned. [--Carol Jones Saint--] Well, you know, Bert, that sounds something like we heard about a family not too long ago that had moved and of course they still had a lot of their boxes that were packed and everything. And then bit by bit as they started to unpack the boxes, they began to burn the boxes. [--Guest (Male)--] Oh. [--Carol Jones Saint--] And someone in the family said, well, you know, that's perhaps a good sign. It shows that you're planning to stay when you start to burn the boxes. And how about burning the bridges behind?

Guest (Male): Well, I'm the one elected to sing this, although I'm not the soloist of the family. But it was quicker for me to sing it than to try to take time to practice. So somebody else in the family could sing it right now. [--Carol Jones Saint--] That's right. [--Guest (Male)--] Listen to these words. Don't listen to my voice.

Guest (Male): Since I started out to find thee. Since I to the cross did flee. Every bridge is burned behind me. I will never turn from thee. Strengthen all the ties that bind me. Closer, closer, Lord, to thee. Every bridge is burned behind me. Thine I evermore will be.

Carol Jones Saint: Oh, those words are wonderful. And perhaps the song needs revived today.

Guest (Male): This would be a good hour for somebody. You've started out to live for Jesus Christ, but there are too many bridges that connect to the old life. Too many reservations. Too many secret plans for retreat if the going gets rough. Oh my friend, make your choice so definite for the Lord Jesus Christ.

That that there will be no bridges left. No boxes left. The boxes will be burned. You can't move. The boxes will be burned. The bridges will be burned. You can't connect. The boats will be gone. You can't go back home. Determine to follow Jesus Christ saying, forgetting the things which are behind, I press toward the mark for the prize of the calling of Jesus Christ, to live for him.

Listen to these words because there are lots of things that connect to the old life.

Guest (Male): Cares of life perplex and grind me. Yet I keep the narrow way. Every bridge is burned behind me. I from thee will never stray. Strengthen all the ties that bind me. Closer, closer, Lord, to thee. Every bridge is burned behind me. Thine I evermore will be.

Guest (Male): Let us pray together. Our Father, we pray that as we have heard the invitation of the leader of centuries ago, saying to the people, choose you this day whom you will serve. May all of us say with the same determination as Joshua. As for us, as for me, and as for my house, we will serve the Lord.

Oh, we are glad that when the Israelites passed through that Red Sea, then the waters closed behind them. They couldn't go back into Egypt. And so, our Father, with those, we would determine to follow thee into Canaan and not think of terms of returning for a visit to Egypt to the wilderness.

Father, we pray that this shall be the hour when people shall make their decision so fully and so definitely for Jesus Christ. Realizing that thou didst say in thy word, no man can serve two masters. Realizing all of this, help us to destroy the boats or burn the bridges or get rid of the boxes, or anything that would connect us back to the old life and determine to follow Jesus Christ all the way through.

May people determine to say, I have decided to follow Jesus. And I've decided to follow him all the way.

Guest (Male): I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus.