A Choice of Life or Death

O. T. #1774  "A Choice of Life or Death"
Sept. 9, 2020
Jeremiah 21
And unto this people thou shalt say, thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.  (verse 8)

LET IT GLOW

Jeremiah's book is not always follow a chronological order as events happened. Now we jump to the last king of Judah, Zedekiah, before Judah fell to Babylon. With that said, King Zedekiah was hoping for a word of deliverance from God as the Babylonian armies were attacking. He asked Jeremiah to pray to the LORD for them. The king desired the LORD to deal with Judah according to all His wondrous works, so God would help, do a mighty miracle, as He had done before.

There was no answer of comfort. The only hope of the rebellious people of Judah was to surrender to the Babylonians. They had a choice: life or death. (verse 8) Those who remained in Jerusalem would die from war, famine, or disease. Those who surrendered to Babylon would live. Their reward would be life. When we read in chapter 52, the number of those taken into captivity was 4,600.

Folks, we have a choice today that is set before us-choose Jesus for everlasting life or choose death, separation from Him forever.

Jesus is the only way to God. He is life. Will you believe in Jesus as your Savior today? Simply put, just ask Him to forgive you of your sins and be your Savior. Believe that He died on the cross to take your punishment for your sins. He lived a perfect life in order to meet the standards for a perfect sacrifice.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)

Christian, we have before us daily to choice of living for Jesus, choosing life, or death, which is living for the flesh. May we choose Jesus.

LET IT GROW

You know, God gave Judah so many chances to repent of their idolatry, but they refused. The time for God's judgment had come.

In verse 5, He said, And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

This was not the response King Zedekiah was looking for from God. The only hope for the people of Judah was to surrender to their enemy and stay alive in Babylon. God lifted up His hand to crush them, cutting off their food supply, sending the sword to kill them, and die by disease.
Here we see the omnipotent power of our God. He keeps His word. It happened as He had said. some think how cruel God was, but He had given them so many chances to repent and turn from their sinful ways, but they refused to do so.

God acts by His agenda, not ours. We're to conform to His kingdom plans, not expect Him to bless our programs. (Tony Evans)

Will we surrender to God today? Will we choose life in Jesus?
America seems to be going down this same path. Will our time come to make such a choice? Perhaps it is set before us in November.

LET IT GO
Surrender to God while there is time to receiver His amazing salvation.
Your love is amazing. Your mercy and grace is above all.
Lamb of God, Savior, Redeemer, have mercy on our souls.