Choose Life

 Life or death. Given those two choices, the decision seems fairly straight forward. It seems as though black and white choices are becoming less and less frequent in the world we find ourselves in today. The grey area rules the day. Or is that just a lie that we’ve come to make an agreement with?

I was reading a few chapters in Deuteronomy this morning. Let me quickly say, If you haven’t spent time in the fifth book of the Old Testament before, use this as your reminder to do it. It’s a powerful book of Moses teaching, charging, and exhorting the Israelites to follow the Law God has just given them.

Chapter 28 is divided by two if-then statements. If the Israelites are obedient, then they will be blessed. If they are disobedient, then they will be cursed. Again, seems simple enough right? I don’t need to summarize the remainder of the Israelites story for you to know that they chose disobedience.

They had it all laid out right before them. They had God’s Presence visibly dwelling with them – through smoke in the day and fire at night. Yet, their disobedience caused their hearts to turn from the Lord.

There are a few words from Moses in Chapter 30 I want to hone in on. He says, “the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14). Friends, this truth has ample value for you and I still today. How is it that we follow after the Lord? We stay close to God’s Word (the Bible). We know it. We talk about it. We abide in it. So that it’s God’s Word that comes out of our mouths and influences our hearts to live after Him.

I can hear the passion behinds Moses’ words when he says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Friend, our world wants us to believe that black and white ways to view the world are archaic and narrow-minded. But if there is truly a Truth, then that means all else is untruth. And it just might be as simple as that.

So, how do we choose life? We get to know the One who made us. We read His Word. We pray. We talk to friends or mentors that know of Jesus. And we run towards understanding by seeking it out. Let me tell you, the extent you get to know God, is the extent to which the grey will fade away. Knowing what is True, gives you eyes to see what is True, and enables you to live after that Truth.

I know this is countercultural and outside of how the world thinks. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). The world will look at you different if you choose to live this out. But friend, this is about nothing less than life or death. Let’s you and I – choose life.