“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life.” Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a
“HEY… NOT FAIR!” was the cry from one of the teams. It was our annual Christmas Trivia Contest, a fun, fact learning tool to teach and re-educate Church members as to what ACTUALLY HAPPENED that very first Christmas. This year, someone proposed it be a contest between the women and the men… which proved VERY competitive. Everyone was told ahead of time what to learn and study to ‘WIN!’
How many cattle… how many Wise Men… how many angels… and how many donkeys were there at the manger scene when Christ was born? These were just a few of the questions that were asked. And those were the EASY ones! When anyone thought that there had been a violation of the rules, or someone was taking, or getting an advantage by the judge, it was called out!
I was the game-show host who came up with the questions… AND the one asking them. I was also the final judge and scorekeeper. Having done this many times before, I knew what I was in for. But somebody had to do it! Let’s just say that ‘game-show host’ and ‘final judge’ are NOT popular jobs, because opinion and argument are always present. But SOMEONE has to be the judge!
This Christmas Contest is not far off from the REAL test God has created among every creature with a brain and a choice. And yes, I said ‘test!’ Being honest, God set the boundaries for ‘Life’ and ‘Love’ from the very beginning. He was clear and firm on the rules. The game could be played as a PROtest, a CONtest, or looked at simply as The test! Today’s verse clearly shows God’s position.
When Choosing Life, I don’t get a pass, a gimme or a freebie! God clearly set His law in writing AND inscribed it upon my heart. I ALWAYS know when I am ‘out of bounds.’ Loud Arguments against the rules from contestants never change God’s opinion or position, though they have been used by Him to help clarify mine. The Rules? God doesn’t make mistakes. ‘Choices’ reap consequences. ALWAYS!
It is clear. ‘Life’ and ‘Love’ in Christ is ALWAYS a choice. God ALWAYS respects my choice. To GET both I must choose to follow through WITH God. So here’s the question, ‘how much Life and Love will I get by ‘doing my own thing?’ The answer is the same as the answer to all those Christmas questions… NONE! So, fellow participant, what do YOU choose… and who’s side are YOU on???
