This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Hopefully very few of us reading this text have had to deal with life and death decisions. We all face tough times in our lives and have probably had times where a decision we made altered life as we knew it. However, very rare is the occasion where we or someone we know is going to live or die based on our choice.  If someone set up a booth on a street corner and asked people to choose life or death, good or evil, the majority would state, of course, that they choose goodness and life. However, their actions may show otherwise.  This is not a hard concept to test. Just take a look around this world. Examine those in your life who are living without God. Most of them put up a great façade that all is well. But if you truly examine what is going on, you will typically find hidden destruction, emptiness and an overwhelming lack of fulfillment or purpose. They have chosen death and an eternity away from God.  Which path have you chosen? In today’s Scripture, God is calling you to action. Submit to His obedience and the results are phenomenal. Turn from His authority, and the consequences could be dire.

Dear God, It’s so easy for me to glaze over my actions and minimize the consequences of the decisions that I make. Help me to live so that my actions match my faith and belief in You. Thank You for protecting us with Your authority, and for giving us the freedom of choice. I choose life and an eternity with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.