Choose Life

📖 Choose Life

Pastor Jeff Smith
6/22/25

📖 Text: Deuteronomy 30:19–20
🎯 Theme: God sets before every soul the choice of life or death—eternal blessing or eternal curse—and lovingly pleads that we choose life.

Opening Thought: At the close of his ministry, Moses presents Israel with the ultimate decision: life or death, blessing or cursing. Heaven (representing life and blessing) and earth (representing death and cursing) are called to witness to this choice. The life that Christ is, and that he offers to all, is not just a life of existence; rather, it is a life in fellowship with God, walking in his ways, and enjoying his blessings. This truth is not just for Israel long ago, but for every soul today.

I. If You Choose Life, You’ll Live
📜 Deuteronomy 30:19 – "Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."

·       It's a wise decision 🔹 Proverbs 15:24 – The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.”

·       – Proverbs 15:24.

·       It affects your children – Ephesians 6:4

·       God has no pleasure in death – Ezekiel 33:11

💡 Application: Choosing Christ means departing from death and entering into life (John 5:24).

II. If You Choose Life, You’ll Love

📜 Deuteronomy 30:20 – "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God."

• Love is a decision of devotion🔹 1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.

•  Love leads to obedience 🔹 John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.

• The love of Christ constrains us – 2 Corinthians 5:14–15.

💡 Application: A choice for life is a choice to love God with your heart, soul, and strength.

II. If You Choose Life, You’ll Listen

📜 Deuteronomy 30:20 – "...that thou mayest obey his voice..."

• Life is found in obedience to the word of God.

• Incline your ear and live

  🔹 Isaiah 49:1 – Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far…
  🔹 Isaiah 55:3 – Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live.
  🔹 James 1:19 –  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

• Be doers, not just hearers 🔹 James 1:22 – Be doers of the word, not hearers only.

💡 Application: If you are going to hear God’s voice, your heart can’t be hardened in unbelief: Hebrews 3:15 – While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

IV. If You Choose Life, You’ll Link

📜 Deuteronomy 30:20 – "...and that thou mayest cleave unto him..."

• “Cleave” = to cling, to hold fast, to be joined in close union.
  🔹 Joshua 23:8 – “But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.”
  🔹 Acts 11:23 – Barnabas exhorted them all to cleave unto the Lord.

• Choose Jesus Christ over the world – James 4:4; Proverbs 11:21

 💡 Application: Life links you to the Lord; death links you to the world. (Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Cor. 4:18)

V. If You Choose Life, You’ll Linger

📜 Deuteronomy 30:20 – "...for he is thy life, and the length of thy days..."

• To linger is to dwell, to remain, to abide:

• The promises made when we choose life:

  • A Prolonged Life (“length of thy days”) –  Psalm 21:4 – He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

  • A Perfect Place (e.g., I go to prepare a place for you) – Psalm 23:6 – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

• To abide with Christ is to abound in Christ: John 15:4 – Abide in me, and I in you

  • John 10:10 – “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

  • Psalm 91:1 – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

💡 Application: Don't rush God’s presence; enjoy the splendor and joy of abiding with Him.