Choosing Life

Choose life that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19b (NKJV)

“Do you like carrots best?” my luncheon friend asked. My plate was almost empty except for the shining orange spears. She did not like them, and thought I should eat them first. I used to save the best for last, until I wondered, “Why spend life making ‘second best’ choices?” Those who choose the best first always have full enjoyment of what is available. When they choose again, they get to enjoy the best of the rest.

Moses explained that the Lord wanted the Israelites, His people, to choose the best, to choose life, and continue living in the Promised Land. The Israelites knew that God gave Adam and Eve the very best of everything in the Garden of Eden. Even after that catastrophic disobedience, the Lord wanted His people to choose life by practicing worship and obedience.

They tried, and when Solomon built the first temple, it contained the very best workmanship. After many failures and when the temple was destroyed, two later temples were built, each smaller than the previous one. These two were still worthy because they also contained the best work of the artisans.

Still, we, His people, needed more help, a Savior who wanted us to make the best choice first because the sooner someone chooses life, the longer he or she will be able to enjoy God's best, a life blessed with the Holy Spirit's guidance and presence. There is no reason to save the best ‘till last. When we love God, we choose life first.

Thanks be to God who loved us so much that he sent his Son to show us the way to choose life and be able to have it more abundantly.

© 2011 V. Colclasure