Choose Life…Today
There is a reason two of my books have the word Today in their title. We can’t replay yesterday or spend tomorrow. Today is the only day we have to make decisions, to work on projects around the house, to visit friends, literally to do anything. Sure, we can put things off. But what if our time is up before tomorrow arrives? Then what happens to all our plans? The Bible tells us, “…in Your book were written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Ps. 139:16).
To offer personal evidence, I have buried my 1-year-old daughter and 27-year-old son. In our minds, it’s not supposed to happen that way. Children should outlive their parents. But God had different plans. We don’t always understand His ways, but we can’t question His reasons. Fortunately, when these events occurred, my wife and I were already part of God’s family and, though these were the hardest things we have ever gone through, with many tears, He covered us with mercy and compassion and gently held our hands through it.
Today’s title is not a guarantee
or magic mantra we mumble when life catches up with us and we’re nearing our “number of days.” My daughter’s number was just over 365, my son’s just under 10,000, and so far, mine is just over 29,000. It’s more of a mindset that, according to James 4:7, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
This subject was part of my morning reading in Deuteronomy where Moses is presenting the Israelites with the opportunity to enter into a covenant with God and warns them of their idolatry, that the curses God has dealt out to Israel’s enemies will be theirs if they do not return to heartfelt obedience to God. Let’s listen in, Moses speaking…
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” (Deut. 30:15-19).
The Israelites were a group of obstinate grumblers.
But God is still showing His love to them by giving a choice between life and death, blessing and curses. We read this and think, duh, it’s a no-brainer. But we literally have the same choice today. It’s just not as obvious because of the wonderful blessings God has showered our nation with for a quarter of a millennium and we (as a nation) don’t give Him the honor and thanks He deserves.
As stated above, this is not a magic formula of any kind, but rather an invitation to all people to turn from their sin, repent, and return to the narrow path (Matt. 7:13). Jesus Christ left His glory in heaven and came to earth with one purpose. He was to be the sacrifice for all the sins of mankind because God demands righteousness and only Jesus meets that requirement. Amazingly, when we turn to Jesus as our rescuer from sin and separation, He turns nobody away.
The Bible is filled with promises
that relate to our topic. Here are a few:
Eph. 2:8,9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 6:37b “…the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
God never forces anyone to believe in Him.
The choice is ours. But look at the downside if you don’t. What awaits is an eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15). But Today can be your new-birth day in Jesus. Don’t put it off. You may not have tomorrow. If you want to know how to make the right choice—today—click here Steps To Salvation. Thanks for reading.