Will You Choose Life or Death?

O. T. #428  "Will You Choose Life or Death?"
December 29, 2014
Deuteronomy 30-Part 2
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may life. 
 Deuteronomy 30:19

LET IT GLOW

Have you made the choice of believing in Jesus as your Savior? He is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). No one can come to God except through Jesus. That is God's way, His plan. Jesus became our sacrifice for our sins, so we don't have to pay for our sins our self. Such love!! It must be done before your final breath, for then is will be too late, friend. Will you choose life or death?

God doesn't force His will on anyone. Moses challenged Israel to choose life, to obey God, and therefore to continue experiencing His blessings.
In verse 19, we read where God set before Israel life and death, blessing and cursing. Moses was encouraging Israel to choose life, so they and their children may live.

Choose means to try; select; appoint.

Under the Old Covenant:

•  God expected an Israelite to trust in the atonement made by sacrifice to make him righteous, and to understand that this sacrifice pointed towards a perfect sacrifice God would one day make through the Messiah. This is how a godly Israelite, in the Old Covenant, trusted Jesus the Messiah to save him even before the time of Jesus.
• Under the terms of the Old Covenant Israel had a choice-life or death, good or evil. It was up to them.
• Israel would see blessing if they were obedient; if disobedient, they would perish. (Guzik)

Those of us in Jesus Christ do not relate to God on the terms of the Old Covenant, but on the terms of a better covenant. In this New Covenant, my relationship with God isn't based on what I do, but on what Jesus has done on my behalf.

Will you trust in Jesus as your Savior and Messiah before you stand before God?(Luke 11:23; Matt. 16:15) Our eternal destiny is determined by our answer to that question.

LET IT GROW

What was Israel to do in order to have life?
Verse 20 tells us:

• love the LORD thy God,
• listen and obey His voice,
• cleave, hold fast unto Him;
• choose life, and regard Him as our life, and our length of days,
• so they may dwell in the land God promised their fathers.

God is not a part of our life, He is our life. (Guzik)

Life Application Study Bible explains:
God lets us choose whether to follow Him or reject Him. this decision, however, is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this, for He would like us all to choose life. Daily in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment.

Choosing life or death was also emphasized by Jesus. The one who believed in Him had the promise of eternal life; while the one who refused to believe faced eternal death (John 3:1-36). Every person faces this same choice.  (MacArthur)

Moses set before Israel the greatest commandment, which was to love God, and also points out that they should continue loving God in the future. Love is still the essential principle in fulfilling the commandment  (6:4-5).

It is our choice-eternal life or eternal death, Jesus or the devil, repentance or pride.

LET IT GO

Let go of pride, humbly come to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you of your sins and be your Savior.

Choose life in Jesus, receiving God's blessings.

Share with others Jesus' way to God.