Choose Life (July 3, 2022)

CHOOSE LIFE

Text: Deuteronomy 30:15 -19

Deuteronomy 30:15 - 19:  (15)  See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.  (16)  If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.  (17)  But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them,  (18)  I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.  (19)  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,

In the 1960s Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, commented to her husband that “If God didn't judge America soon He was going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah”. How much worse has America grown since she spoke these words. http://evenatthedoors.com/godsjudgment.html A lot has happened in 62 years that should make us praise God that God has not unleashed on us the judgment that America deserves!

When America was being established as a colony that would later became a world leader among the nations, it was Puritan preacher John Winthrop who said in his sermon, “A Modell of Christian Charity’ aboard the flagship Arbella , that America is a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14). That statement was profound as it was prophetic. It was Ronald Reagan who cited once again those words and the significance to us as a nation- -”a city set on a hill”! https://www.neh.gov/article/how-america-became-city-upon-hill How much has America’s light lost its luster? How much of America’s light has grown dim? How can America know the path God chose for her to take without His word to be “a light for our feet and a lamp for our path” (Psalm 119:105)?

What caused America to loose some of her luster? Is it bad decisions from bad leaders through the generations who chose to “bow down to other gods whom they serve” (Deuteronomy 30:17)?

Today, we will explore obedience, light and preservation.

OBEDIENCE

Does obedience mean that we have to pick a side?

1) Avoiding troubles?: “There is an old story about a boy who bought a new sports car. He ordered it painted red on one side and blue on the other. The salesman was extremely curious and asked about the unusual request. “Well,” said the lad, the way I drive, I’m always getting into trouble. I like to hear the witnesses contradict each other.” (Ernest A. Fitzgerald. Keeping Inspirations in the Air. Greensboro: Pace Communications, 1988, p. 107). I remember trying to avoid trouble or rather pain when I was four years old, for a spanking by padding my pants with tissue. It was a spanking I deserved that I never received.

2) Double mindedness: When we do not make clear and distinct decisions and waver between two possibilities, we become victims of double-mindedness. https://thechristianadvocate.org/what-is-double-minded-about/ James 1:8 tells us that the double-minded man is unstable in all he does (NIV). Jesus also addressed this same idea when He told us that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Jesus calls His disciples to be salty and bright and not chameleons who try to blend in with whatever crowd they are with.

3) 20/20 hindsight: They always say hindsight is 20/20 because when we look at how the events unfolded in end because the conclusion has already been revealed.

When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right; but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else comes crashing in? This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; It will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. ([C.S. Lewis] Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press). How many poor leaders do we have because of their inability to choose which side that they stand on?

Does disobedience bring judgement?

1) Questions: Do we obey because we are afraid we’ll get zapped if we don’t? Or, do we obey because of our praise? Or do we obey because of our love for God? How can we expect God’s blessing if we do not follow God’s will?