Speaker: Reverend Marlin Jones

One of the biggest questions in life is what will people say about us when we are no longer around. In fact, this question is not just when we die but it is also a question that should be asked when we leave a place, leave one job for the next, get promoted from one school to the next, or in fact move from one church to next. How we leave a place says as much about us as when we arrive at a place.  In fact, in a lot of areas of life, i.e. sports, education, church, it’s often said that how you finish is the most important thing. Rahab is a great illustration of a person who created an entirely new legacy by making the decision to hide the spies. Rahab moves from a legacy of a prostitute and possible innkeeper to a legacy of courage, belief, and salvation.  In order to create a similar legacy, we must:

1. Be  Strong and Courageous! Throughout the book of Joshua, God encourages Joshua and Israelites to be strong and courageous. Rahab demonstrates this by choosing to hide the spies. This would have been considered treason had she been caught. This courageous decision was her first sign of faith. Faith requires courage! (Joshua 2:4)

2. Choose to Believe! Rahab choose to believe the report and the rumors about who God was. She had heard about God parting the Red to bring the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. She believe God had given the Israelites victory over Sihon and Og. Her belief caused her to share important information with the spies that the people of Jericho were already defeated in their hearts. (Joshua 2:4-6)

3. Complete the steps for Salvation! Rahab had 3 specific conditions that she had to complete in order to save herself and her family. She had to tie a red rope in the window. She had to bring her entire family to her house and keep them inside. Finally, she had to not betray the spies. We too have conditions for salvation. We must admit that we are sinners, Believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, Confess that Jesus is Lord!  (Joshua 2:17-20)