Choose

The more I study the Bible, the more I am amazed at how plainly God repeatedly tries to get us to understand. Most people recognize the verse from Joshua 24:15: “Choose this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” However, many do not realize that this is a theme repeated all throughout scripture. Even more do not realize why God so often calls on us to choose. Look at two specific passages that both call on us to choose, but also explain why.

In Deuteronomy 30, Moses is saying goodbye to the children of Israel. He has loved and led these people for over 40 years. He has been frustrated by them, and yet, when God would have destroyed them for disbelief and disobedience, Moses has intervened on their behalf with God. As Moses is leaving them, he is reminding them of choices he can no longer make for them.

Focus in on Verses 15-19:

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 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.

God, through Moses, lays out the choices and asks the people to choose Him. Why? For their own good!

Now look to the New Testament, in Romans 8. Most of this great chapter shows the distinct difference between those who have chosen to live life in the Spirit with God and those who live according to the flesh. Perhaps the most stark difference is found in Verse 13: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Again, why do we choose God? He offers life! He offers joy (Acts 13:52)! He offers peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:6-7)!

So, by all means, choose. But while you are choosing, remember the blessings to be found in choosing God and His ways. If you understand that, there really is no other choice that makes sense.

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