Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”
I have yet to meet someone who when asked if they had a choice of whether they would like to receive a blessing or a cursing, chose to be cursed.
There are times in life when the choices that are made don’t clearly reveal where they lead. For instance, if someone was sharing the gospel with another who was apathetic, typically they would respond without any sense of care. No amount of reasoning or persuasion is adequate for a person who cares about nothing. Often times when someone has an incentive to listen is when apathy changes into a willingness to hear.
When my children were young they could be so sweet and obedient, my wife and I hoped to teach them to respond with gentle compliance and joyful exuberance but the reality of parenting just isn’t that easy. To the contrary, my kids usually needed a little extra motivation to get them moving in a direction they didn’t want to go. Punishment was not pleasant but was necessary for correction and instruction.
Romans 13:2 “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”
We don’t always get what we want when it comes to our Father in Heaven, but we always get what we need…..this is love personified. Whether it is the blessings God gives or punishment for defiance, the Lord always acts out of love. He isn’t emotionally driven by whether He is having a good day or not, His love is perfect and likewise His response in every situation is perfect.
We should be comforted in knowing we don’t need to second guess the Lord, we only need to focus our response in accordance with the direction He is leading.
The Apathetic
One of the most troubling trends in 21st century America is the rise of apathy. Hidden under the guise of atheism and celebrated in universities and liberal institutions is the trend of postmodern thinking that believes truth is relative. The ideology has its roots in neo-darwinism that professes an allegiance to a world philosophy devoid of God and focuses on a foundation of chance and circumstance.
Psalm 53:1 “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.”
God has made Himself perfectly clear to this world and for those who embrace a theory that has never been proven, an attempt at reconciling a world view that hopes there is no recourse for sin will prove disastrous.
Psalm 74:18 “Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.”
The justice of God is clearly defined by His law and all who have forsaken it will be held accountable to His standard. No amount of reasoning, feigned intelligence, or philosophical gibberish will hold sway when the day of reckoning comes.
How do you know where you stand now so that you won’t be surprised later?
The Surety of Grace
There are many things in life that will let you down, essentially anything that mankind has touched has been corrupted, but for the Lord everything He does is consistent. He does not overlook sin and He does not withhold grace from those who believe and repent.
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
For God’s people: grace is a done deal—He doesn’t take it back, He doesn’t “unseal” His people and He certainly doesn’t lose them to the enemy. Because the Lord is unchanging and doesn’t waver, there is security for those who are in Christ.
Jesus has fulfilled the requirements of the law and paid the redemption price, all anyone has to do is accept His free will offering of love and follow Him.
Blessing is reserved for those who accept His measure of Grace.
Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
Cursing and destruction is reserved for those who have rejected Christ. The love of God was exemplified by the sacrifice of His Son and for those who spurn His great gift, great suffering is just over the horizon.
The beauty of God’s love is how you are given a choice.
Acts 17:30 “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”
It seems obvious to those who know the Lord but incredulously many people just don’t want to accept the hope that Jesus has provided. The times of blessings can be found in the camp of the redeemed.
For those who are under judgement the call continues to go forth.
Proverbs 8:4 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
The little that the world holds onto today will be gone tomorrow. Choose life while it is still available, the path is not yet fixed for those who remain but the day is drawing to a close.
A blessing or a curse awaits…which will it be?
U.T. 