WHAT’S YOUR CHOICE?
“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil… 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.
Deuteronomy 30:15, 20.”
We face life and death issues every day. Because we belong to a kingdom of life, we must get into the habit of choosing life in every situation. But to choose life, we must have God’s understanding about life. We often make decisions with our humanistic thinking. I believe it is imperative to know what God thinks about life from the beginning to the end.
What about the beginning of life? We believe that life begins at conception. However, I see in God’s Word that God goes even beyond conception. One of the many words that He uses to describe children is the Hebrew word zerah. This word is used to describe the sperm but is also used for people—babies, toddlers, teens and adults. It seems that God sees them all the same. He sees that the life begins with the sperm. There would be no babies or no adults if there were no sperm! Compare Leviticus 15:16-18 which uses zerah for sperm and Genesis 46:6-7 (among many other Scriptures) that uses zerah for people, “They came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed (zerah) with him: his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his son’s daughters, and all his seed (zerah) brought he with him into Egypt.” This speaks of three generations of different ages.
I am always amazed at God’s revelation in Hebrews 7:9-10 where it says, “Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.” Levi was four generations down from Abraham, not even a twinkle in Abraham’s eye, but God says he was actually in the loins of Abraham and paid tithes to Melchisedec when Abraham paid tithes. God sees the seed of life that continues in each continuing generation. What a tragedy that so much life is cut off today before it is even conceived!
What about the end of life? It is quite prevalent today to encourage people into the arms of Jesus when they are nearing the end. Pastors and counselors often say, “The Lord is waiting for you. You can now go to the arms of Jesus. We release you to go.” A pastor said this to my father as he neared his last moments. I thought it sounded very spiritual at the time.
It was not until sometime later that the Holy Spirit convicted me that, although it sounded very nice, it is far from right! No one, no matter who they are, has any authority to tell a person it is time to leave this earth. This kind of thinking slowly leads us toward euthanasia. A person will give their last breath when they are ready, without anyone’s help. Even when they are unconscious or in a coma, they can still be aware of their loved ones around them. Maybe they want to linger on and savor the presence of family members as long as they can. They do not need auto-suggestion from anyone.
It is a divine privilege to breathe our last when we are ready, not when someone else thinks we are ready. Jesus gave up his own spirit. Luke 23:46 says, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
We are living in a culture of death, masterminded by Satan who wants to destruct. He comes to rob, kill and destroy (John 10:10) He wants to rob life from this world before it is conceived and after it is conceived. He wants to snuff people’s lives out before it is their time to go. In the midst of this culture, we must stand out like beacon lights, promoting life! Never being deceived by society around us! Never giving in! Never compromising! There is no middle ground. We either belong to the kingdom of God which promotes life or the kingdom of Satan which chooses death. One brings blessing; the other cursing. If we do not choose life, we are contrary to God’s kingdom.
Philippians 2:15-16 says, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.”
Make it a habit to choose life in every situation, even when you open your mouth to speak! Embrace life. Give life. Love life. Stand up for life. Speak life. Make decisions for life. Choose life that you and your descendants will live!
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Lord, please save me from being subtly deceived by the culture of death in which I live. Help me to always stand for life.”
AFFIRMATION:
I’m lighting up, standing up and speaking up for life!
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