Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 – I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
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Sometimes when we read the scriptures, the simplest statements strike most deeply. Here, as Moses nears the end of his last speeches before the nation of Israel, he sets things out as plain as can be. The people have a choice before them. They can choose life or death, blessing or a curse. They have before them a clear fork in the road, and God commands them to make their choice. There is no middle ground. There is no neutral position. There is no half-hearted answer to be had here. It is simple, all or nothing, true or false, yes or no.
This is the kind of choice that has never stopped being before the people of the world. Though this verse, in its context, is for Israel and their obedience to the old covenant, it applies so well to everything around us today. God sets before every person a decision to be made. We all must respond to Jesus. We all must say what it is we will do with him. Will we believe him or reject him? Will we trust him or deny him? Will we serve him, or serve ourselves? Will we receive from God a blessing or a curse? There is no middle ground. There is no half-hearted decision to be made. It is all or nothing, life or death, heaven or hell.
If, for some reason, you are reading this blog and you have not placed your faith in Jesus for the salvation of your soul, let me urge you to do that today. Jesus is God’s very own Son. He came to earth as a man, and he lived an absolutely perfect life with no sin before God. He died on the cross, and in his death, paid the penalty for the sin of all who believe in him. He rose from the grave, proving to all that God was satisfied by the work that Jesus did. Now, the question stands before you as it stands before all people: What will you do with Jesus? Today, I set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life, that you may live. Choose Jesus, and let his death on the cross pay for your sins. Choose Jesus, and be forgiven of all the wrong you will ever do, past, present, or future. Then thank God, because you would never choose Jesus without God first choosing you.
Lord Jesus, I know that you are perfect and holy. You are God the Son, who died to pay the penalty for my sin. I know that I am a sinner, and I deserve to be eternally condemned for my sin. I thank you that Jesus paid the full price for my sin. I trust myself to Christ’s finished work on the cross. I trust in Christ’s promise of grace for all who believe in him. I believe in you, Lord Jesus, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins. I yield my life to you, and ask that you will do with me anything that will honor you. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are faithful, and that you will not cast away any whom the Father gives you. I thank you, God, for working your grace in my life when my heart was too dead to respond to you on its own. May your name be honored in my life forever.
Pastor Travis Peterson 