David began by introducing the concept of the slogan ‘choose life’. It has contemporary origins in societal influence through entertainment and political lobbying, but the oldest (and truest) source is from the Old Testament within this chapter – Deuteronomy 30.
Moses was giving the last of his speeches to the people of Israel, the new generation. He told them they would mess up, abandoning God and their beliefs and as a result they would end up in exile: BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, will restore them after they come to their senses.
“THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS AND THE HEARTS OF YOUR DESCENDANTS, SO THAT YOU MAY LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND LIVE”
God will remove whatever it is that prevents you from being devoted to him; it’s never about what we can do, it’s all about what He does. That being said, we do have a part to play: we can cut things out that compromise our hearts but ultimately it is God who can change someone from the inside out.
“NOW WHAT I AM COMMANDING YOU TODAY IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU OR BEYOND YOUR REACH. IT IS NOT UP IN HEAVEN, SO THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN TO GET IT AND PROCLAIM IT TO US SO WE MAY OBEY IT?’ NOR IS IT BEYOND THE SEA, SO THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK, ‘WHO WILL CROSS THE SEA TO GET IT OR PROCLAIM IT TO US SO WE MAY OBEY IT?’ NO, THE WORD IS VERY NEAR YOU; IT IS IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART SO YOU MAY OBEY IT”
Choosing life was the Israelites’ choice, as it is ours today. It isn’t impossible or undoable; it doesn’t demand superhuman strength; it is within touching distance. God is not out to trick us. The call to obedience, as Chris Wright comments, “is not impossibly unrealistic, impractical or unachievable”.
What does choosing life actually mean? Verses 16-20 tell us:
- Love the Lord your God – LOVE
- Walk in obedience to him – LISTENING
- Keep his commands – LOYALTY
Moses also provides the Israelites with what the alternative of choosing life looks like:
“BUT IF YOUR HEART TURNS AWAY AND YOU ARE NOT OBEDIENT, AND IF YOU ARE DRAWN AWAY TO BOW DOWN TO OTHER GODS AND WORSHIP THEM THEN YOU WILL SURELY PERISH”
What does not choosing life mean?
- Allow your heart to turn from God
- Be disobedient, do your own thing and not God’s
- Worship other gods, removing God from His rightful place in your life
Thankfully…
WE HAVE JESUS – who came to fulfil the law
WE HAVE JESUS – who removed the biggest barrier so you and I can know and love God
WE HAVE JESUS – who by the Holy Spirit indwells and enables us
WE HAVE JESUS – who is the way, the truth and the life
Has God changed your heart?
Have you let God change your heart?
Do you need God to change you heart?
THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS THE MATTER OF THE HEART.
