The Greatest Decision in Life
Sermon Series: Life Choices
19. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20. That you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Living in a World of Choices
According to Cornell University researchers, people make over 35,000 choices each and every day. The food choices alone amount to an average of 226.5 per day. That’s a lot of choices! The data suggests that these choices are not merely random selections but can be rather complicated processes. According to an article by Frank Graff of UNC-TV, these decisions rank in importance and in strategy as to how we process decisions.
First, there is Impulsiveness, where our choice is made to leverage the first option and be done with it. This reminds you of the TV program, “Let’s Make A Deal.” Sometimes people would rather take the money rather than wait out the consequence of what’s behind door number one. The next strategy in deciding is Compliance. This involves choosing the most pleasing, comfortable, and popular option as it pertains to a situation. The next choice is Delegating. Now the responsibility is passed on to others instead of making up our own mind. Just pass it on to others and let them deal with it.
Choices may also involve efforts to protect oneself through Avoidance or deflection. The choice either avoids or ignores responsibility. People make this decision when they can’t be decisive. It’s called the procrastinator’s method. Then there is Balancing or Weighing the factors involved, studying them, and then using the information to render the best decision for the moment. Some people deal with life as one big chess game. Speaking of chess; young Tani Adewumi, became the US’s newest young chess master at the age of 10. After fleeing his Nigerian homeland, his family moved to America and for a time were homeless according to a May 11, 2021USA Today news report. What a choice for good! The final strategic method we use is Prioritizing and Reflecting. This choice is based on putting the most energy, thought and effort into those decisions that will have the greatest impact. This process is reserved for major life choices. It is one that involves prayer, godly counsel, and serious thought. It is this process that we will use to make the greatest choice in life.
The Greatest Decision for the People of Israel
As Moses pondered how the new nation of Israel would survive and even thrive in the Promised Land, he realized that their national success boiled down to one of the greatest decision they would ever make. Would they obey the Lord their God? Rather than posing the question to them in terms of faithfulness, Moses knew that obedience to God would mean the difference between life and death, so he put the question before them in powerful terms. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. This was serious. They could not blurt out some scripted answer and be done. The Israelites were forced to prioritize their national existence not on the size of their army, or the number of their population, or the amount of wealth. Their decision was based on whether they wanted to live or die. This was a God choice.
Knowing a little about their background as a nation might be helpful. The Israelites were a new nation, but they were also former slaves. As former slaves, their decisions were made for them by their Egyptian taskmasters. All that was needed to survive as a slave was compliance. During their trek through the wilderness, they struggled daily as a result of that old slave mindset. While they were now servants of God, they were free to choose their devotion to God. They were free to choose how they would honor and worship the Lord. Moses had said to them, “you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5. Now, they were at a place where they were to cast their spiritual ballot either for God or for the life of a slave to the world. Moses did not want them to push the decision further into the future because commitment to God started immediately. Honoring God would be a daily walk of trust and obedience to God.
First Moses needed witnesses. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. To drive home the magnitude of the decision it required entities of permanent existence. Heaven and earth were created by God but are also God’s witnesses that will testify on behalf of the faithful or against the unfaithful. These witnesses would testify if anyone has bowed down and worshipped them rather than to worship God. They were witnesses of man’s decision. Moses knew how people lied and covered up for each other, so human witnesses were barred from testifying. Some would say, “I want to give my testimony” but there is no need, because heaven and earth will give adequate testimony to determine whether you made the right choice.
Not only did Moses call for witnesses, he provided clear and concise outcomes of the decision. The results would either be life or death, blessing or cursing. No one in their right mind would choose death and cursing, right? Again, Moses knew the people he had dealt with for forty years. Their murmurings, rebellion, and outright evil nature would lead them to make wrong choice every time. They held on to poor choices because they loved their own way more than God’s way. He knew that the same folk that claimed they loved God would build a “golden calf” at the blink of an eye. Yet, if they would make the right choice, that would free themselves from that way of death and cursing.
Then Moses placed the decision before them. Therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. It would seem that this was a clear choice and one that anyone would readily agree to. But not so fast. Moses also know and you and I know that we are incapable of making such a choice without God’s intervention. If there is one lesson I have learned in life is that you cannot expect a great deal of good to come from sinners. Sinners cannot make good choices. That process must be carried out by those who have the capacity to be faithful. Here is where the Israelites and we get help from God. God helps us make the right choice.
The Right Choice by Grace
Before the Israelites could reply, Moses added a saving Grace statement. The power to make life’s greatest choice is not in man but is found only in Grace of God. That you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” The New Living Translation gives a different, but extremely helpful rendering that we need in making life’s most important decision. It reads, You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, mental accent to decision is not hard, but carrying out the decision takes more than human ability. We will need God to help us make that kind of life decision.
Some years ago, many in the Church world were engrossed with the new fad WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) The idea was to ask ourselves the question each time we were confronted with some situation or circumstance. Unfortunately, that way of thinking makes two faulty assumptions. It assumes first, that I know what Jesus would do. It also assumes that I have the ability to do what Jesus did. That thinking is extremely flawed because honesty tells me that I neither think like Jesus nor do I have the energy and strength to do what Jesus did. But O how awesome is God’s grace!
Moses said to the people, God will help you if you simply love Him and obey His commands. If you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When we come to God and make up our minds to love Him, that changes everything. Through loving God, we release our faith, we open our hearts, and we yield to the power of God’s Holy Spirit. What seemed to be an impossible decision now one that now relies on God’s Grace.
If you can surrender your will and accept God’s Grace to help you make the greatest decision in life, you will have no problems trusting God for the rest of the things in life. Make Jesus your life choice. Behold I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock … if anyone hears My Voice and opens the door, I will come in and will sup with them and they with Me. Revelation 3:20.