Choosing Life or death

Choosing

Choosing Life in the Season of Lent

Text: Deuteronomy 30:11–20 Theme: The Two Ways Before God’s People Seasonal Emphasis: Lent – A Season of Repentance, Renewal, and Holiness

Last Sunday Pastor Adam talked about turning our backs to God. We continue to focus on the blessings instead of focusing on Him. Throughout history of the Israelites, we see that they are strong in their faith when God seems to be present in their lives and all is going well, but it never fails they either become comfortable in their situation which leads them to turn toward the things of this world. From generation to generation, much like the Israelites we have allowed ourselves to become more focused on the things that are of this world instead of on God. Today we are going to focus on the message God gave to Moses and His warning to the people of Israel to choose life and turn toward God and stay focused on Him and not the things of the world or face the punishment of death.

If you have your bible open them to Deuteronomy 30:11-20, it will be on the screens to the left and right. Please stand as we read the word of God.

The Offer of Life or Death

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 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?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 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, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Let us Pray.

Heavenly Father, you set before us life and death, blessing and curse. Turn our hearts toward You. Give us courage to choose life— to love You, to obey You, to hold fast to You. In this Lenten season and all the season of our lives, continue to draw us to You, the One who is our life and our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Introduction: We’re all standing at the Edge of Decision

Introduction: The Power of a Choice

Even though we don’t realize it every day we all make hundreds of choices. Most are small: what to eat, what to wear, what route to take to work, will I pass the math test at school. But sometimes placed before us is a situation where the decision we make will have a greater impact on our lives other than cereal or eggs for breakfast.

Has anyone heard of mother’s intuition?

You know that feeling deep down inside you that led to a decision that changed your life forever? We all get that feeling at some point throughout life. Depending on how in tune we are with those we love we may get it more often.

For instance, being pressured to get in a car with your friends that may already be or planning on getting drunk or even high, and you get that deep down in your gut feeling that tells you, “Don’t go.” Later that night, your friend crashed his or her car and two of your friends were seriously injured or even worse killed.

"The moment felt small, but it changed all of your lives."

Some choices are like that. They may seem ordinary at the time, but they determine the direction of our lives.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, we find Israel standing at a defining moment. After forty years in the wilderness, the people are finally at the edge of the Promised Land. Their leader, Moses, is delivering his final sermon.

This is not casual instruction or covenant urgency. The message is simple, clear, and powerful: “I have set before you a choice life or death.”

Moses knows he will not enter the land with them, but the future of Israel will be shaped by the spiritual decisions they make after he is gone.

This message is not only for Israel long ago. It is a message for every generation, including ours.

He gave them Two ways.

Life and blessing

Death and destruction

And then he says something that echoes across every generation:

“Choose life.”

The Lenten Context: A Season of Spiritual Examination

Historically, Lent has always been about preparation.

It prepares us:

For the cross

For repentance

For renewal

Lent calls us to:

Self-examination

Heart cleansing

Renewed surrender

The wilderness theme of Lent mirrors Israel’s own wilderness journey. Just as Israel had to learn dependence on God, we also must learn to let go of what competes with God.

The smaller churches often understand this a little more. In smaller congregations:

· Faith is relational

· Prayer requests are personal

· Testimonies still shape the spiritual culture

· Families gather faithfully week after week.

· Testimonies still matter.

Lent also reminds us that even in faithful churches, spiritual drift can happen quietly.

Not loudly. Not dramatically. But gradually.

I. God’s Word Is Near (Deuteronomy 30:11–14)

Moses begins with an encouraging truth:

“This command is not too difficult for you… nor is it far off.”

God never calls His people to an impossible obedience without also giving accessible truth.

Moses says:

It is not in heaven.

It is not across the sea.

It is near—in your mouth and in your heart.

This is deeply connected to the Lenten journey.

Lent is not about finding new truth—it is about returning to known truth.

Most believers already know:

How to pray

How to repent

How to seek God

The struggle is rarely knowledge. The struggle is surrender.

Rural Church Illustration

Several years ago, a small country church held a revival service during Lent. The attendance was modest—about thirty people—but faithful. One evening, an older farmer stood during testimony time.

He said:

“I’ve known the Lord for fifty years, but lately I realized something… I stopped listening.”

There was no scandal. No moral collapse. Just slow spiritual neglect.

He continued:

“I didn’t need new truth. I needed renewed obedience.”

That night he knelt at the altar, not for salvation—but for renewal.

That is Lent.

Not always rescue. Sometimes restoration.

II. The Two Ways Are Always Before Us (Deuteronomy 30:15–18)

Moses moves from encouragement to confrontation:

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.”

Notice the word today.

Spiritual decisions are always present tense.

No one lives today on yesterday’s obedience.

The Way of Life

Moses defines life through three commitments:

1. Love the Lord

2. Walk in His ways

3. Keep His commands

Love comes first because holiness begins in relationship.

Holiness is not rule-keeping—it is heart surrender.

This aligns directly with the holiness message that flows throughout Scripture and finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. God’s desire is not merely forgiven people—but transformed people.

The Way of Death

Moses warns that turning away begins in the heart:

“If your heart turns away…”

Spiritual decline rarely starts externally.

It begins:

With neglected prayer

With reduced Scripture engagement

With quiet compromise

III. Lent Reveals the Direction of the Heart

How many have taken their cars in to the mechanic when the check engine light comes on?

What is the first thing that the mechanic does when he brings the car in to the shop. They hook it to a diagnostic tool to see what is wrong and what is operating correctly.

The season of Lent acts like a spiritual diagnostic tool.

It reveals:

What controls us

What distracts us

What competes with God

Fasting, prayer, and reflection are not religious exercises—they are spiritual mirrors.

IV. The Generational Impact of Choosing Life (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Moses raises the stakes:

“That you and your children may live.”

Faith is never isolated—it is inherited.

In the church communities, faith traditions are passed down through families:

Grandparents pray

Parents serve

Children observe

But the opposite is also true.

Spiritual drift is generational as well.

V. What It Means to “Choose Life” in the Holiness Tradition

Moses concludes with one of the most powerful summaries of covenant faith:

Love the Lord Listen to His voice Hold fast to Him

This language resonates deeply within the heart.

Choosing life means:

1. Entire Surrender

God does not ask for partial obedience.

He asks for the whole heart.

2. Ongoing Transformation

Holiness is not a one-time moment—it is a continual walk.

3. Dependence on Grace

We do not pursue holiness through effort alone, but through surrendered cooperation with the Spirit.

Lent reminds us that sanctification is not seasonal—but it can be renewed seasonally.

This message fits perfectly within the season of Lent.

Lent is not merely a tradition. Lent is a spiritual crossroads. It is a season when as a church we pause to examine the direction of our heart. It asks us questions like:

Are we drifting or drawing nearer?

Drifting often begins with small things:

· Neglecting prayer

· Losing hunger for Scripture

· Gradually withdrawing from fellowship

· Allowing sin to become tolerated rather than confessed

To Draw nearer involves intentional spiritual practices:

· Prayer and worship

· Obedience to God's Word

· Repentance and humility

· Fellowship with other believers

Are we obeying or merely attending?

Merely attending allows someone to remain in a place of comfort like.

· sit in the same pew every week

· sing the songs

· hear the sermon

Yet leave unchanged.

The danger is that church becomes routine rather than transformational.

Being Obedient means the Word of God moves us to action.

When we obey:

· forgiveness is extended

· repentance takes place

· generosity increases

· holiness becomes our pursuit

This reflects the teaching in James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Are we spiritually alive or just spiritually comfortable?

To be spiritually comfortable describes a faith that has become settled, routine, or complacent.

Signs might include:

· Going through religious motions without passion

· Little desire for deeper growth or repentance

· Resistance to conviction or change

· Faith becoming habit rather than relationship

This condition resembles the warning Jesus gave to the church of Laodicea in Revelation3:15–16—being lukewarm, neither cold nor hot.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

To be spiritually alive means our faith is active, its growing, and responsive to God.

· It increases our Hunger for God’s Word and stimulates our prayer life.

· It increases our Sensitivity to the conviction of the Holy Spirit

· It increases our desire for holiness and obedience

· It increases our willingness to change, repent, and grow and

· It increases our Yearning to Engage in serving others and sharing our faith

Scripture often connects life with spiritual vitality. For example, in Ephesians 2:1–5, Paul describes believers as once dead in sin but made alive in Christ. Spiritual life means our hearts are awakened and continually being renewed.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

In many ways, Lent is our modern-day “plains of Moab”—a place where God calls His people to decision.

VI. The Cross: The Ultimate Choice of Life

Lent moves us steadily toward the cross.

At the cross we see:

The cost of sin

The depth of grace

The invitation to transformation

The choice Moses presented finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Where Israel struggled, Christ obeyed perfectly.

Where humanity failed, grace prevailed.

Life is no longer merely a command—it is a person.

And that life calls us deeper.

VII. A Rural Revival Illustration: The Old Wooden Altar

In many churches around the world especially in America, there are still wooden altars at the front of the sanctuary.

They may be worn. They may be scratched. They may not be impressive.

But they tell stories.

Stories of:

Marriages that have been restored

Addictions that were surrendered

Calls to ministry answered

And hearts being sanctified

I would like to tell you a story of a revival in a church with fewer than forty members.

On the final night, an elderly woman slowly walked forward with a cane. She knelt carefully and began to pray:

“Lord, I’ve been saved for years—but I want all of You.”

That night several others followed and knelt .

Not because of emotional pressure—but because surrender is contagious.

Holiness often spreads quietly.

VIII. The Lenten Invitation: Choose Life Today

Moses did not present a philosophical idea—he presented a decision.

Lent does the same.

This season asks:

What needs to be surrendered?

What needs to be renewed?

What needs to be restored?

Some need salvation.

Some need sanctification.

Some need awakening.

But all need surrender.

IX. Altar Call: A Nazarene Moment of Response

Truth invites decision.

So today we hear again the words:

“Choose life.”

Perhaps the Holy Spirit is speaking about:

A neglected prayer life

A drifting heart

A hidden struggle

A call to deeper holiness

Lent is the season where we stop pretending and start surrendering.

Altar calls are simple:

No stage lights. No production. Just prayer.

And that is enough.

Because transformation never depends on presentation—it depends on surrender.

Today we have seen three truths in this passage:

1. God’s Word is not distant. We hear his voice often but we sometimes either choose to not listen or are distracted by things in our lives, like our family, what is going on at work or school, or because we may be hurting physically, emotionally or spiritually.

2. God places a real choice before us. He does not force our hand; the choice is ours. Eternal life with him or death.

3. God invites us to choose life. By loving Him, trusting Him, and walking in His ways.

Conclusion

Israel stood at the edge of promise.

We stand at the edge of renewal.

God’s Word is near. God’s Spirit is calling. God’s grace is sufficient.

This Lenten season is not about ritual—it is about decision.

And the voice that spoke through Moses still speaks today:

Choose life. Love the Lord. Hold fast to Him.

And walk forward renewed.

Let us pray together the Lord’s prayer.

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, 10 thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,[a] but deliver us from the evil one.[b]

For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen