The distance between you and our culture

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.   Joshua 24:15

When you don’t in a world that generally does, you stand out like a sore thumb. In other words, when almost everybody cheats, and you don’t, you are penalized. When almost everybody lies to get ahead, and you don’t, you are at a distinct disadvantage. When almost everybody uses company time for his own pleasure and you don’t, you are thought strange or even stupid. There is always a price to pay for distancing yourself from the corruption of the culture that surrounds you.

What makes you feel compelled to tell the truth, to sleep only with your spouse, to give your employer a full eight-hour day and not to use the Internet to kill time? It’s your integrity, honesty, honor and work ethic, which are offshoots of your personal faith.

If I have described you, then stand tall and realize you are not alone. Those who have stood against the trends of their day always are in a minority, whether they confronted Caesar or couldn’t look the other way when the company was being cheated by a dishonest employee.

The Apostle John put it like this: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).” The more corrupt our culture, the more you will stand out in contrast when you abide by your convictions. Yet the more secure will be those who sleep in your home, who look to you for strength and guidance and who will follow in your footsteps.

Long ago Joshua drew a line and stepped across it. He said, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).”

From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Psalm 103:17-21