EPIPHANY 6 – February 16, 2020 – Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Deut. 30. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Although we often don’t realize it, many of our decisions and choices in life are a matter of “life and death.” We should consider: the foods we eat, what we drink, how fast we drive, how close we walk to the edge of the cliff, how deep and cold the water is that we are swimming in, whether we should try to lift that big package or not, whether we should ride that motorcycle.
- Of course, there are numerous other things as well – from doctoring, medications, to worrying and concerns, and even what vocation we are in. And then there is also the issue of abortion – choosing life or death for an unborn child; and also the issue of suicide; and also the issue of euthanasia and assisted suicide. These all involve choosing “life or death.”
- In our text, we see Moses advising the children of Israel to consider very carefully another “life and death” matter – one’s relationship with God. Now, very many people today consider this to be a tangential and peripheral concern. Many people think only in terms of “religion,” cynical that there is such a real thing as God, or that anyone can know for certain Who He is or what He wants with us. They do not consider the matter of relationship with God to be of much importance or impact on their life.
- Not so Moses and the other authors of Holy Scripture – who claim to be speaking for God, speaking God’s own Words to us. In our text Moses makes clear that how we relate to God is always a matter of “life and death.”
- In the verses just preceding our text, Moses also makes clear that God has made this matter of choosing Him and choosing life very easy. In words that the apostle Paul also quotes in his letter to the Romans, Moses asserts:
“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” [Deuteronoy 30:11-14]
- So let us take a look at what is involved in this “life and death” decision! First:
I. God, Through His Word, Calls Us To Life And Good
Text: “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”
A. So We Must Be Willing To Hear, And Must Not Turn Away From Him
Text: “If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you this day . . . But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear.”
B. It Is Critical That We Hear Him And Then “Obey” Him
Text: “If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God . . . obeying His voice and holding fast to Him.”
1. Repenting of our sins
Is. 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Ezek. 18:30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.”
2. And most importantly God’s wants us to be rejoicing in His gracious mercy and forgiveness
Exodus 34:6,7 “The LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”
Statement: One of the oft repeated complaints of God throughout the prophets is the unwillingness of His people to simply “hear” what He is saying to them. In the book of Isaiah God says:
“For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.’” [Is. 30:9-11]
Application: It is unthinkable, given the love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and faithfulness of God, that people would not turn back to Him in repentance when He calls and speaks to us, and that they would reject His love and salvation. This is of critical significance in a person’s life – to have peace with God, the Almighty Owner and Preserver of all things, and the ultimate Judge of all people! And it is of critical importance in a person’s life what they are committed to – whether to good or to evil!
Transition: God invites all people to life, and:
II. God Warns All People Against The Choice Of Death And Evil
Text: “But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. Your shall not live long in the land that your going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.”
A. We Must Not Remain Oriented Toward And Committed To Evil – Not To Irreligion, Idolatry, Or Immorality
Text: “Obey the commandments of the Lord your God . . . [do not be] drawn away to worship other gods.”
B. Physical And Temporal Woes Will Come From Choosing Death And Evil
Text: “I declare to you that you will surely perish. You will not live long in the land that you going over the Jordan to enter and possess.”
C. Ultimately Death And Hell Will Come For Those Remaining Impenitent And Unbelieving
John 3:36 “He that believes the Son has everlasting life; but he that believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Statement: This is obviously not God’s will for any human being. He says: “As I live, declares the Lord, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn back from his way and live.” [Ezek. 33:11] He says, through the apostle: “God wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [1 Tim. 2:4] So He continues, to this day to “set before you life and good, death and evil. He says to each of us: “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord you God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days.”
Application: God has made this very easy for all people. Paul quotes the verses immediately preceding our text, and then comments on them: “But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’”
Conclusion: So God is talking about His salvation – inviting us principally to repentance and faith – when He “sets before us life and good, death and evil,” and encourages us to choose life! Yes, such life of faith is also a good life – devoted to God, the only True and Living God, and to His ways – to ways of love and true goodness.
Sadly, the children of Israel rejected this love of God – and rejected God Himself, FOR IDOLS! WICKED IDOLS! Sadly, many people around us in the world today do the same. Let us beware!
Two things: “LISTEN, AND CHOOSE LIFE.” May God grant such blessedness to us all, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.