Choose Life (2/7/11)

Shalom,

    Please begin by reading Deut 30:11-20.

    Moses is giving his farewell speech to the Israelites in this passage.  They're on the brink of entering the Promised Land.  But like their father's generation they have a decision to make first.  Are they ready to follow Yahweh's oath or are they going to reject their oath and go their own way?  Their father's had chosen poorly, and paid the consequences by dying in the wilderness.  Moses wants this generation to learn from that mistake and to choose life instead.  That choice is the one each and every human being must make today.  Will we choose life in Christ, or death without him?

    In verses 11-14 Moses talks about how some of the people might begin to speak about the impossibility of what was facing them.  He knew they might complain about the difficulty of Yahweh's requirements.  So he lets them know that they don't have to go to heaven to get what they need and they don't have to cross the ocean either.  Both of these were obviously impossible tasks.  But that's not how Yahweh operates.  He doesn't place himself completely out of our reach.  He draws near to us and helps us grab hold of the good things he sets before us.

    Yes, there are impassable barriers between us and Yahweh right now.  But he's provided for us by bringing it all down to our level.  He makes things available to us so we can take advantage of his great blessings.  So the problem isn't that we don't have access to Yahweh.  It's not that we don't know what he requires of us.  Even though many people say they can't understand the Bible, none of can say Yahweh's Word is out of our reach.  Jesus' life, death, and resurrection makes it possible for every single human being to know the Father.  If we have a seeking heart, we will find our Father in heaven.  If we hunger and thirst for him, he will be found by us.

    Yes, there are things that are hard to understand in the Bible.  But that doesn't give us the option of closing it and leaving it on the shelf.  That just means we need to concentrate on the things we do understand while we get to know our Creator better.  Then as we mature in that knowledge more of the Bible will make sense to us.  And our problem isn't likely to be that we can't understand something we need to know.  Usually our questions are about things that are beyond us and that frustrate us when we run into them.  Then like little children, we get upset and throw tantrums because our Father won't let us in on his secret.  Remember, you can't make words until you know the alphabet, you can't make sentences until you know words, and you can't write books until you can make sentences.  Allow the maturing process to work and don't seek for shortcuts.

    The offer of life is nearby and very worthwhile.  Yahweh doesn't intend for any of us to live boring and dull lives.  He wants to see us live productive and interesting lives.  He gives us the choice between "prosperity and disaster."  Prosperity here means goodness, pleasing and desirable things.  Disaster means what is disagreeable to Yahweh.  Our Father doesn't choose the path for us.  Yes, he wants us to follow the one filled with blessings, but he leaves the choice in our hands.

    We can choose to live lives that are either agreeable or disagreeable to our Creator.  Isn't that a very plain choice?  Shouldn't that be a very easy decision for us to make?  And yet Moses had to challenge these people, to basically dare them to do what's right in Yahweh's sight.  Nothing will ever change the fact that each of us is individually valuable to our Father in heaven.  He wants all of us to choose wisely.  He gives us all the information and direction he can to help us choose wisely.

    Look again at what Yahweh says is the result of choosing life.  In verse 16 it says, "you will live and become a great nation...  Yahweh your God will bless you and the land."  And yet even many Christians question whether or not being bold in a world that's antagonistic toward its Creator and his Word is worth it.  Some think, it would be easier to relax a little and not confront people with the Truth of Jesus.  Probably.  More pleasurable?  Maybe for a little while.  Worth the cost?  No way and no how.  We need to work to build Yahweh's Kingdom, even against the opposition.  The opposition is going to be absolutely and totally removed some day, and when that happens which side will you find yourself on?  Remember what Jesus said in Matt 12:30.  "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."

    We need to choose life because the only other alternative is death and destruction.  Yahweh narrowed down the options for the Israelites and for all of us.  The choice today , and it's always been this way, is whether we'll obey or disobey our Sovereign Lord God Almighty.  Will we choose his way of life or our way of death?  This is one of those things people say isn't fair.  From their limited human minds they think Yahweh should give them more options.  But in his supernatural intelligence, he kept it simple for us.

    There are no third or fourth or multiple options.  The Bible is clear in pointing out that there is only a narrow or a wide road to follow.  Many people say, "I don't want to choose either one."  Sorry, there are no other choices, and neutrality is dangerous.  Failure to choose the right way is to choose the wrong way.  Choosing not to follow Yahweh's path of life is choosing to follow the road to death and hell.  Anyone who says they "can't" believe this is true, is actually saying they refuse to accept this truth.  All humans either will or won't trust that their Creator has set before them life and death.  It really is simple.  Answer his call and follow him to heaven.  Reject his call and follow the devil to hell.

    All who obey Jesus on this earth will enjoy life.  That's it.  That's all you have to know.  There isn't a need for great and detailed explanations.  This is the truth of the Creator of our world.  The offer of life is available all day, every day.  All we have to do is say, "Yes Lord!"  And yet many people miss it.  Many people refuse to listen.  Some just can't see how it can be so easy to access.  Some insist there has to be some big price to pay to receive eternal life.  How can it be free?

    Christians know it to be free because there's no earthly price that can be paid.  It took a perfect sacrifice to pay the price of redeeming us from our sin.  That price could only be paid by Jesus.  Only he could offer anything of sufficient value to pay the price.  For Yahweh, the Father, saving the world was worth the price of having his Son die and go to hell.  He believes we're worth the greatest price possible.  He considers each of us individually worth the effort he expended.  There's nothing that any human has done or can do that is worthy of obtaining salvation.  We all fall short of living a completely perfect life.  But our Father loves us so much he offers us his salvation for free.  All we have to do is ask for cleansing from our sin.  It's amazing that he loves us so much.

    And know that his love overcomes all our weakness.  There's nothing within any of us - no physical, emotional, or spiritual flaw - that can change the fact that each one of us is individually valuable to our Creator.  The choice of life isn't just offered to the "good" people.  That's because there are no "good" people.  We're all sinners in need of redemption.  Yahweh doesn't rank people like we do.  He just loves them and seeks to help them overcome their sin.

    We really need to hear the warnings found in this passage.  Verse 17 says, "if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen."  That's a danger we all need to overcome.  We must face up to our stubbornness and submit ourselves humbly to our Lord God Almighty.  If our affections, our attention, or our devotion turns to something other than Yahweh, we're placing ourselves in grave danger.  When we begin to disobey, to refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit, the words here say that we'll "certainly be destroyed."  I can't believe that any of us would consider anything worth losing our salvation, but many continue to make that choice daily.  If there was no danger, Yahweh wouldn't offer us so many warnings in his Word.  Heed the warnings and draw closer to him, or you'll wander off into a place where you won't find him.

    Just like Moses, I tell you, "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.  I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make."  Whatever choice each of us makes individually is kept on record in heaven and with any eyewitnesses here on earth who know what we've done.  Don't use the cop-out that says, "God knows my heart.  Even if I don't speak out boldly, I still believe."  The problem is that he definitely knows our hearts.  He knows when we're speaking the truth and when we're laying out a false premise.

    If you choose life, "you and your descendants" will be blessed.  Remember that your choices affect your children and grandchildren.  When we trust and obey our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we gain blessings for ourselves and our children and our grandchildren.  This decision isn't just important to us as individuals, it also affects the generations that will follow us.  It opens the door to greater possibilities for them.  They still have to make their own individual decision as to whether or not they'll follow Jesus, but we put them in a better place to make their decision by being committed followers of Jesus ourselves.

    We may not have a specific Promised Land before us to help guide our choice.  But we do have a God who wants us to be blessed in every aspect of our lives.  The only way to receive the joy and grace and provision necessary for good living is to obey the Word of our God.  To receive the life and blessings of Yahweh we must listen to his voice and do what he tells us.  I hope each of you is choosing life and passing this blessing on to others.  Don't wait for a better opportunity or a more opportune time.  The sooner you're solidly in line with Yahweh's plan and purpose for your life, the sooner the blessings are available to you.

    Blessings & Peace,    Mike