DIVINELY ORDERED CHOICES

“…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both you and your descendants may live” – Deuteronomy 30:19

Divinely Ordered Steps derive from DIVINELY ORDERED CHOICES: “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” (Deut.30:19). Life is God’s Gift, but it is our CHOICE! God gives us guidelines and principles, but life’s choices are ours to make. He sets before us options that engender life or death, blessings or curses, but counsels us to choose life – transgenerational life! Joshua said: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Jos. 24:15). There may appear to be a wide array of choices before us, but in reality, there are two broad choices, and one is unthinkable. The only meaningful choice is LIFE!

Deuteronomy was Moses’ final sermon, just before his death. Here were the last words he delivered to the people after forty years of being in charge. Like many farewell orations, it ended up being a thirty chapter sermon, the summary of which was: “Choose to do what is right and be blessed, or else you’re going to regret it. Wake Up! Choose the Right Path!” Moses was not referring to just physical life or merely concerned with life duration, but with the reality and quality of their faith. Choosing LIFE refers to not just the physical, but the blessing of eternal life in all its dimensions, which is God’s Will for His children: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jh.10:10).

God speaks through Isaiah: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isa.30:21); “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go” (Isa.48:17). In the New Testament, we are privileged to have more revelation than Israel had. We have fuller knowledge of God’s word and will, the complete written Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit indwelling in us and guiding us to all truth. We have less excuse to disobey God’s Word, and to choose wisely: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom.8:14).

Beloved, God didn’t predestine anyone for failure. He has given us the right to choose either life and blessings or death and curses, but He wants us to prosper and be in health (3Jh.1:2). How we live and make decisions is entirely our responsibility. We can choose success over failure and excellence over mediocrity. Although God wants us to be prosperous, excellent, successful, and sound, we have to line up with the Word, and decide to be all He wants us to be. It’s a personal choice to make. Anyone can do anything for us, including praying for or sharing the Word with us; but no one can make decisions for us. God’s role is to guide us through the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, so we can make the right decisions. My today is a product of yesterday’s choices. My tomorrow is dependent on the choices and decisions I make today.

Choices have consequences. Our choices determine the quality of our lives on earth and for eternity. We live or die with the choices we make. Choosing life is a daily decision; therefore we need to choose wisely, and circumstances should not determine what we’ll be in life. If we reject, disobey or ignore God’s principles, we are the ones that get hurt and suffer the consequences. God sets before us opportunities to choose to love, obey, and trust Him, which means life. He wants us to make the right choices: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17).