See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His Commandments and His Statutes and His Judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 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 live: (Deut. 30:15-19)
Just as Adam and Eve had the choice of believing God and obeying His Word, so Israel had the choice to keep His Laws and possess the land in obedience by faith. God put forth His Word and called each of them to faithful obedience, not because it would save them, but to demonstrate their faith and their love for their God. As they prepared themselves to enter into the promised land and conquer that which God had already given them and promised to them, they were given the choice to believe and obey, or reject God and His Word. Choosing God meant life and blessing, rejecting God meant death and separation from God and His blessings.
Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe, the Son of God who is God the Son, is life, and He came that we might have life. We have a choice to choose Him or reject Him. The choice to receive Jesus Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary is a choice which leads to life eternal. He offers life and liberty to all who will repent of their sins and receive Him. The same choice which Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the Israelites had, was to choose God’s Word of Truth and live or choose man’s opinions, theories, and ideas and reject the God of the Universe who loved us and gave Himself for us when He put to death the flesh for our sins and paid our sin penalty for us. Each person must make that choice for themselves and as long as they don’t accept Him, they are rejecting God and choosing to remain in their sins and separated from God who offers Salvation to all who will believe.
God has sent those who are His and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet