In this world we get to choose between life or death, in the next world we get to reap the consequences of our choices; good or bad. As we seek God, we start to see the choices are very clear, but if we are not seeking God, it is sometimes difficult to even recognize that we are given a choice. Proverbs 9:10 says that gaining wisdom starts with fearing the Lord, and when we gain wisdom making choices between life and death are much clearer. Every one of us has a free will to choose if we want to seek God or not. Our biggest obstacle is ourselves.
Repentance is not only confessing our past sins, but it also involves us making a choice to return to God, and in choosing to return to Him we are choosing the path of life. The path of life includes studying the living and active Word of God and making corrections as we learn to discern and choose between life and death.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
We all have challenges in front of us all the time that give us the choice between life and death.
When Jesus spoke, He was not open to tell people He was the Messiah, but rather He was more about helping individuals think about repentance and how it was going to impact their life. His gospel message was to ‘repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand’. He did not come preaching ‘to believe that He died on the cross for our sins, and if you believe in Him you will be saved’. In fact, when Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus said not to tell anyone (Mark 8:29-30). Jesus taught parables that made a person choose their consequences (Matthew 25:14–30). He motivated people to think for themselves giving them the ability to choose life over death.
You Make A Good Decisions When You Repent
Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:11-15, “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.”
We are to make a choice, and the blessings of God are conditional based on how we choose. Sometimes it may seem very difficult to follow God, but He will change our heart if we choose His ways. A few verses before this in Deuteronomy 30:6, God said he will circumcise our hearts so that we will love him. The Rabbis explain it as, when you repent, God will ‘circumcise your heart’ in order to overcome the hurdles of sin; He will remove the spiritual impediment that prevents you from repentance. In other words, God will open your eyes to see, and your ears to hear (Proverbs 20:12) so that you can now make good decisions and choose life and live it more abundantly.
Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Some people may have a conflict with choosing good over evil, but in the end, God will reward those who do good and punish those who do evil (Romans 2:6-16). Our job is to repent, and then God will circumcise our heart (remove the scales that are over our eyes) that is preventing us from being able to clearly see to make good decisions. The ability to fulfill the commandments of God may seem unreachable, but that is only because of the barriers our mind puts in front of us. While living a life focused on the things of this world, it is difficult to choose life. In Romans 10:5-10 Paul uses this same argument that Moses used in Deuteronomy. Paul says if you repent and confess your sins you will be saved and be able to follow God’s commands. Paul also says it is choice for a person to live by faith when he says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This is what God is saying in Deuteronomy 30:6 when He says if you choose Him, “He will circumcise our hearts so that we will love him.”
Jesus said, “If we love Him, we will keep His commandments.” If we choose to be a disciple and follow Jesus’ commands, we will have the eyes to see and ears to hear so we can choose life over death. To choose life is to choose to love God. A person who studies the instructions (Torah) of God, needs to do so without any other motive except to love God and learn how to serve Him, without any selfish concerns. It is said that one who studies the Torah must study it for the sake of knowing and loving God. To do something simply because you accept it as the will of God and want to know Him better.
Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Here are eight examples of areas you have the ability to choose life or death on a daily basis:
- Be intentional about always moving forward in your relationship with God. We are commanded to grow and come closer to God (2 Peter 3:18).
- Serve God with joy and happiness. This is the primary reason that curses come as stated in Deuteronomy 28:45-47, “… Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart…”
- Examine your thought, speech, and actions daily and pay attention to what is coming out of you. Be purposeful in monitoring you. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:31, “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.”
- Control your speech. Do not slander or gossip or say words that destroy others (Matthew 12:36).
- Not to be quick to anger (James 1:19-20). You cannot undo what you do in anger.
- To not be lazy (1 Timothy 5:8), for work or when it comes to study and learning the things of God.
- Do what you can to protect what your eyes see (Proverbs 4:25).
- Do what you can to protect what your ears hear (Isaiah 33:15)
You have challenges in front of you all the time, and you have a choice to choose life or death. That is the free will everyone has. The choice should be to choose what God wants. His will is that you repent, learn what His instructions are, and choose to do them; to choose life.
You Get to Choose Life or Death
The repentance journey is up to you, but you must submit any desires that God does not want you to follow and choose His ways. This is the path of life.
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