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 30:19
As a high school band director, I sometimes help parents make decisions about purchasing instruments. I have found that parents generally fall into one of two categories. Some just want to purchase the cheapest instrument they can find that will get their student through one more year. Other parents are willing to invest whatever is needed to provide them with a quality instrument.
Because I want my students to love playing their instruments and to continue in that endeavor, it is hard for me to watch parents go on eBay and obtain a hundred-dollar flute—a nice, shiny instrument that is poorly made. When they bring it to show me, I just smile and say, “That is a nice-looking instrument.” There is not much else I can say, because I know that within a couple of months, they will be buying another one. Buying cheap doesn’t pay off in the long run. That is why I try to encourage parents to look for a name brand—for a reputable manufacturer who produces instruments that have been tested and proven reliable.
God offers each individual a choice. Many opt for an easy way—a religion that doesn’t cost much, a “shiny” profession of faith that will look good to others but will not require much personal investment. Sadly, like a cheap instrument, that type of religion is not going to satisfy in the long run.
How much wiser it is to determine to pay the full price and obtain God’s incomparable salvation! Yes, there is cost involved. We will need to place ourselves, our plans, our wishes, and our all at God’s disposal, yielding our entire life to Him. But oh, the rewards! What we receive in exchange is something that has been tested down through the ages of time. It was designed by God Himself. It has proven absolutely reliable in every culture, for every generation—it never fails!
In today’s focus verse, Moses challenged the Children of Israel to make a decision. Each of us faces the same choice. God does not force us to serve Him; He lets us decide whether to follow Him or reject Him. And this decision is critical. It will impact the quality of our life in this world, and and even more importantly, it will determine our eternal destiny.
God’s salvation is worth any price. Make the right choice, and obtain it today!