CHOOSING THE BEST LIFE
INTRODUCTION::
Moses tells the people in Deuteronomy 30:19 to choose life. The choice is still ours
today. However, what is the best one to choose? The best choice is a life with God.
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I THE BEST LIFE OFFERS A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
Today there are other choices of life we can make. There is the secular life which means
to live a life completely separated from the church or any other religious organization
and to raise your children in non-religious situations. In fact, the secular life is growing
as more people separate themselves from any religious organization or worship. Then
there is a worldly life which is devoted to the material things of this world. Material
things like money, houses, possessions of all kinds have the immediate attention of
these people. Then there is a spiritual life which devotes itself to love of self and others.
They pay loving attention to all living creatures and the planet in general. They
specialize in doing good to others. They are kind, loving, and gentle. Many of them are
more loving and kind than many people in the church, yet without any religious
commitment. All of these lives and others such as atheists and agnostics lack any
relationship with God through Jesus Christ. However, the best life to live is one
dedicated to serving Jesus Christ. Anything we put before God is idolatry as Moses
warned the people in Deuteronomy 30: 17. God told the people that they were to serve
him with all their hearts and souls. (Deuteronomy 11:13) Jesus said that you cannot
serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24) The beauty of a relationship with Jesus Christ is
illustrated in the beautiful hymn Jesus loves me this I know. Some say these words
were spoken by the bed of a dying child. They were eventually put to music. Karl Barth
said that they were the essence of his Christian faith. During the height of the Christian
persecution in China, some Chinese Christians sent a message saying, "this I know
people are well." This code message indicated that the Chinese Christians were safe.
Some Bible verses concerning a relationship with God:
a.Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. James 4:8
b.The Father and Jesus will make their home with you. John14:23
c.God abides in us. 1 John 4:16
II THE BEST LIFE OFFERS A GUIDE BOOK FOR LIVING:
Moses reminded the people in Deuteronomy 30.17 to keep God's commandments. God
has a guide book, the Bible, for us to use in our daily lives. Every game we play has rules
and guidelines. Football has rules which the players must observe. If any of them break
the rules, their team must pay a penalty. Any game you play has rules and regulations.
The Bible gives us regulations for living in the game of life. Even some of the laws of the
government are based on the Bible. Even those who live a spiritual, worldly, or secular
life follow some principles of the Bible. Otherwise, we would be like the people in the
time of the Judges when everyone did what was right in his sight. A child wanted her
mother to play a game of charades with her. The mother agreed but sat down to read
the rule book. "What are you doing," the child asked. The mother said,"I'm reading the
rule book." The child said, "Don't worry I know how to play the game." Sometimes we
think we know so much that we do not need to read the rule book. The Bible is God's
rule book for living. We lean until our understanding at our risks. Blessed are those who
hear the word of God and obey it. (Luke 11:28) Other verses on the word of God.
a. The word endures forever. 1 Peter 1:25
b. God's word is at work in you. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
c. God's word is living and active. Hebrews 4:12
d. All scripture is inspired by God. 2 Timothy 3:16
III THE BEST LIFE OFFERS BLESSINGS FOR LIFE:
Moses told the people that God would bless them in the land if they served him. God
has blessings in store for us along the path of life.The Bible says to praise God from
whom all blessing flow. Persons who follow other choices are also blessed, but have no
one to thank for them. Some may give lip service to God, but many assume they have
achieved blessings in life through their own endeavors. They refuse to give credit where
credit is due. However, those who chose the best life know from whence their blessings
come. A little boy was disturbed because his father had changed jobs and perhaps
would not be able to give him as many Christmas gifts as before. Imagine his surprise
when on Christmas morning he found even more gifts than he expected. God can give
us exceedingly more than we could ask or think. We should never forget his blessings or
take them for granted. A father and his son watched their dog running around and
around chasing its tail. After a while the boy asked his father why the dog chased its tail
aimlessly. His father answered, "He is chasing what he already has." Let us never forget
to give God thanks for what we already have. Other verses on God's blessings:
a.God satisfies our needs. Philippians 4:19
b.Perfect gifts come from the Father. James 1:17
c. May God continue to bless us. Psalm 67:7
d. God can provide every blessing. 2 Corinthians 9:8
IV THE BEST LIFE OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO BLESS OTHERS
During my first year in seminary, a professor said, "What makes an act Christian is the
reason for which it is done." Choosing the best life means to serve Christ by serving
others. In Matthew 25:48, Jesus says doing good to the least of these is doing it unto
him. Many people do good to others. However, we who choose the best life do good
unto others as a Christian act. What a blessing it is to serve Christ by serving others.
There is no limit to the things we can do in the name of Jesus. By choosing the best
life, we serve others with no strings attached. We do not serve them in order to convert
them, but simply as a means of serving Christ. Choosing the best life can involve
ministering to the poor, fighting for justice, caring for the hurting, and interceding
wherever there is need. It can mean to specialize in the important things of life and to
cease doing what is not worth your time. Verses on helping others:
a.Do not neglect to do good and share what you have. Hebrews 13:16
b.Do not grow weary in doing what is right. Galatians 6:9
c.Open your hand to the poor and needy. Deuteronomy 15:11
d.Contribute to the needs of others. Romans 12:13
e.Offer food to the hungry. Satisfy the needs of the afflicted. Isaiah 58:10
THE BEST LIFE OFFERS A LIFE BEYOND:
Moses told the people in Deuteronomy 30: 20 that they would live in the land the Lord
had promised them. God has promised that we would live with him after this life is over.
In fact, the best life we have with him now will continue. There are many verses in the
Bible that promise a life beyond this life. None of the other lives can promise this, not
the worldly life, not the secular life, and not the spiritual life. Other religions may have
some concept of another life, but not as direct and concise as the life promised us.
Some might say that this is only a hope which cannot be proven or verified. However, I
view it somewhat like a gamble or a bet. Others cannot prove that there is no afterlife,
and we who follow the best life cannot prove there is one. However, I choose to believe.
I cannot prove it, but I choose to believe it. I choose to believe that God so loved me that
he gave his only-begotten son so that if I believe in him I would have everlasting life. I
believe Jesus has gone to prepare a place for me. I believe that where he is I will be
some day. I believe in my father's house there are many mansions. I cannot see it, but by
faith I believe it. Agnostics and atheists sometimes say that you are wasting your time
reading the Bible, singing hymns, going to church. It is not a waste of time because that
is how I build a relationship with God. That is how I get to know him better. The more I
know him, the more I love him. I want to see him some day face to face. That is why I
choose to believe. That is why I chose the best life.
A man was riding in his car one day and he noticed a ragged old car ahead of him. On
getting closer, he saw a bumper sticker on the car saying," my other car is a Mercedes."
The lesson he learned was not to judge by what the other man was driving because he
had something else people did not know about. We have something else too, an eternal
home in the heavens. That is why we chose the best life.
