Choose you this day, whom ye shall serve

Illustration: Move “The Shift”

The other day I was on social media where a clip of a scene from the movie “The Shift” came out.

On the scene, there was two men who sitting on a diner.

One man was silent appearing to be exhausted, ready to give up.

The other man was a representation of Satan who was influencing these man to continue in his wrongdoings.

The man who was silent, lowered his head, interlocked his fingers and started to praying.

The man portraying Satan noticing what he was doing — immediately — started discouraging the person praying, remembering him of all the things he have done and that God would not forgive him.

The man praying continued with his prayer and Satan eventually left him be.

This man chose to rely on God; instead of being influenced by Satan.

Preaching:

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:21 “And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.”

Every day as we go through our lives we make decisions, choices — whether big or small — that influence/shape our lives into who we are now and who we shall be further on.

However, the greatest choice that lies before us is not of circumstance, opportunities or of emotions, but rather of direction of our hearts.

A choice of whom we shall follow: whether God or Satan; whether to be a Christian [a follower of Christ] or a non-Christian [a follower of the world].

Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

God spoke to His people that they [we] have the option to disobey if they [we] choose to do so; however, God emphasizes “choose life” and we shall have life — not just life on it own — but a life with God.

“...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing...” this is a representation of our spiritual life with an outcome of receiving the reward of everlasting life or the consequence of God’s wrath (Rom. 2:5-11).

If we choose life: we have chosen to live faithful and obedient to God’s commandments and, in doing so, receiving everlasting life by God’s grace, mercy, and love (Jn. 14:15).

If we choose death: we have chosen to live apart from God’s presence, from all that is good, which leads to one path: destruction.

Matthew 7:13–14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

God desires no one to perish from their own sins but to be saved through His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”).

He is patiently waiting for all to choose to repent and return to His embrace (2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”).

God loves you, He loves me, He loves all mankind; therefore, we must choose to love him in return (Rom. 5:8; 1Jn. 4:10, 1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us”).

APPLICATION:

Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

When we choose God, we:

Denying ourselves: putting away any sinful practice but also anything that hinders in our approach to God.

Take up our cross: choosing to serve Him not just once but daily, always persisting in living by Christ example.

Follow Him: always choosing to get closer to Christ living by His laws and not by our own understanding.

CONCLUSION:

God presents a choice to His people and the same choice is a reminder for each one of us:

He does not force us to do anything but gives us free will to make our own choices.

God has shown us the way (Psalm 32:8 ; Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path”).

Life is found in Him (Psalm 36:9 ; John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” ).

Our choices of today shall shape the outcome we shall receive; whether it be the reward of everlasting life or consequence of eternal condemnation.

So today, whatever we face, whatever weights on our hearts — choose life, choose to hear God’s voice, choose to believe in His promises over the pull of the world.

WHAT IS OUR CHOICE TODAY?