The Ultimate Choice: Moses' Passionate Plea That Changes Everything

When You Know Someone Is Heading for Trouble

Have you ever been involved in a situation where you've known of somebody who was just doing something that was not good? You just had a real big concern about them, and you didn't know what to say to them. You were afraid of coming across as maybe judgmental or harsh or something like that if you confronted them. And at the same time, you realize that you had a responsibility to talk to the person because you saw something, obviously that was ultimately going to hurt them.

If you've been in that scenario before, and if you tend to be a real passionate person, I think you're going to really be able to identify with Moses at this point. As we look at Deuteronomy chapter 30, verses 19 and 20, Moses is getting ready to die. He had been with these people for well over 40 years. He saw what they were made of, and it wasn't good. But yet they were God's covenant people.

The Courtroom Scene

Moses addressed them with great passion. Deep, deep, deep, deep, deep conviction. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, he declares: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death and the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord, your God, by obeying his voice, and by holding fast to him. For this is your life and the length of your days that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give to them."

So he's painting this picture of the courtroom. And he has two people, two beings there to testify or to witness, I should say, to what he was going to tell these people. These two witnesses being identified as heaven and earth, were at the opposite end of things. In other words, what I'm saying to you is it's going to go down on record for history forever and ever and ever, that you've had your chance.

Freedom Comes with Responsibility

Here's the bottom line. You and I have the freedom and the responsibility to choose what we're going to do with God in our lives. We have the freedom and the responsibility to choose what we will do with God in our lives. No one can take that freedom away from us. But we also need to be very mindful of the fact that with freedom comes a great deal of responsibility. We can't blame this on anybody else.

This decision that he was calling them to make was an easy decision. It was not a difficult task at all. He says, I've set before you life and death. Blessing in the curse. Choose life. It's that simple. Choose life. What you do with God in your life is not a difficult choice. It's either yes or no. There's no gray area. Either God is supreme. Either he's ultimate, he's the number one in your life, or he is not. It's just that simple.

The Impact on Future Generations

We need to realize the choices we make about God. The choices that we make about God will impact other people. In this particular case, Moses was saying, it's going to impact not only you, but your descendants as well. It's not all about you. Consider future generations when you're making your choices.

You have the right to choose, but you don't have the right to choose your consequences about the choices that you make. You have your right to make your decision, but you do not have the right to choose the consequences that come along with your decision.

How Life Is Obtained

So how is this life obtained, this life that he's talking about, that he wants us to choose? Deuteronomy 30:20 makes it so simple: by loving the Lord your God. Now, this is not a deep, passionate word, that word loving there, it's actually a word that shows affection. I just like being with you, you know, it's almost a devotional kind of love.

Have you ever had that companionship with somebody that you're talking to them and the time just goes so quickly? You look up at the clock and you say, I can't believe we've been here talking for three hours. You just like being with them. That's what that word love there means. Love God as a companion, as a friend, as someone that you're devoted to, someone that you just enjoy being with.

Second, obey God. Listen to his voice. What did Jesus say? My sheep know my name and they hear my voice. That you're such a companion to him that you know his voice.

And then thirdly, Moses said, you know what? You need to hold fast to him. You need to hold on to him. You need to be really just super, super close, like you're joined together. You see what he's painting here, the picture of intimacy with God. Closeness with God.

Putting It Into Practice

Does that sound like something you'd want today? Do you want to have that kind of closeness with God? There's no reason you can't. You just have to make the choice, say God, here I am. Let's get started.

Get rid of some things in your life. Shed some things that may really. You may really feel like they're important now, but ultimately they're not. I'm not talking about material possessions. Maybe I'm talking about attitudes, acts of disobedience. But get rid of them now so that you can enjoy the days that remain in your life.

Get rid of the stuff now that's stopping you from being close to God. Get rid of it now so you can enjoy what God has for you and your future. The choice is yours: life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life.