Deu 30:19 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.

Life or death, blessing or cursing; it was a question Moses propositioned Israel. The choice was left to them, and in urging upon them the inducements to a wise choice, Moses appealed to their senses: “therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Obviously the sensible choice is to choose life that they and their posterity might live comfortably and happily, quietly and safely, and constantly, and for a very long time, in the land of Canaan.

What can we learn from this single verse?

1. Man Has The Freedom To Choose To Love God Or Not – God creates man a free moral being. There was never a time when man was forced to love and believe in God; never in the past and neither today nor in the future. At the end of Revelation, we see the Spirit and the Bride extending the invitation to the world: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelations 22:17). “Whosoever will” means no soul is excluded: Jesus died for every man; every man may be saved; therefore let him who wills, who wishes for salvation, come and take the water of life freely; the choice is theirs.

2. In Making A Choice, Man Is In Fact Choosing His Destiny – He is choosing blessing or cursing, eternal live or eternal death. Unfortunately, there are many who deliberately choose eternal death. I have talked to people who don’t want God in their lives. They said they prefer to be in hell with their friends and loved ones than to be in heaven with God and Christians. Those who choose not to believe in God is choosing hell as their final destination: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

3. Man Is Not Free To Choose The Consequences Of His Choice – In this world, we accept that one must bear the consequence of his choice. A thief will be caught one day and suffer for his deeds. One who eats and refuses to exercise will suffer the consequence of sickness associated with idleness and gluttony. The consequence is attached to the type of choice one made. Man cannot choose the consequence. Likewise, one cannot hope to go to heaven while rejecting the love of God. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

4. Man’s Choice Will Affect His Children. Moses said: “Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Does it ever occur to you that your choice will affect your little ones? Do you know that your children are following you? Yes, children will follow their parents. Faithful Christian parents are most likely to bring up faithful children (Ephesians 6:4). How many parents could speak like faithful Joshua: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”? (Joshua 24:15b). Joshua was an example to his household in serving God. Where do you want your children and grandchildren to spend eternity? 

 "Therefore choose life." Why "therefore"? (1) Because the alternative is undesirable, and there is no middle space; it must be life or death. (2) Because life is everything. All that is worth having in this world or the next is in this word "life." Therefore, choose life!

Christ has said, "I am the Life" (John 14:6; 11:25). Salvation is a choice. We have the choice of life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both we and our offspring may live.

Which will you choose?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.