The Simple Truth
Deuteronomy 30 is
such a straightforward passage. It lays
it right out there, doesn’t it? It is
the parallel to Joshua 24 in many ways.
In fact, since Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the people it should
not surprise us too much that Joshua would close his farewell speech borrowing
similar notes from Moses’ farewell speech.
Especially when we realize that those words are so true.
We begin with a
foregone conclusion. The blessings and
the curses from the prior passage will both come upon the Hebrew people. This chapter doesn’t begin with “if.” Rather, this passage begins with “when.” Humanity is what humanity is.
This is really a
point that breaks my heart when I read these passages. It is not a matter of “if” we are going to
fall away from God. It is completely a
matter of “when” will we fall away. It
is a matter of how long can we keep it together before we as individuals and we
as a community fall away from that which God desires us to focus. Our sinful nature is a given no matter how
much we profess to love God and desire to be saved by Him. We are sinful beings. Praise be to God that He is greater than our
sin!
God’s Love
However, the rest of
the first half of this passage speaks to us about how much God longs for us to
repent and return. God knows it is only
a matter of time before we fall away, and He still loves us! He simply is waiting for us to return, just
like Moses promises that God will wait for the Hebrew people to return whenever
they fall away from Him. God longs to
bestow His blessings upon us.
We also know that this
is true. The Hebrew people will fall
away. They will go into exile. Their temple will be torn down. But they will come back. It won’t be the same, mind you. They’ll be under the Persians, the Greeks,
and the Romans. And then for thousands
of years they’ll be scattered all over the globe. But they will still remain. The Hebrew people do still remain to this
day! God does keep His word, even if the
context changes.
Not Too Hard
I also love the words
that begin the second half of this chapter.
“The choice set before you is not too far off.” It isn’t too hard. The word is in our mouth and in our
heart. We know the truth. It isn’t like the truth escapes us. It isn’t like we cannot comprehend God’s
truth – especially the truth that God has chosen to reveal to us as we learned
yesterday. The truth is fairly simply to
know and understand!
The real question is
whether or not we want to know the truth.
The real question is whether or not we actually want to put in the time
or the energy to follow God. Verse 15
makes it quite clear. God has set before
us life or death. God has set before us
good and evil. Which one will we
choose? It is a simple question, yet it
is the question upon which most stumble in this world. Do I choose God – that is, life? Or do I choose self – that is, death?
No, the choice is not
too hard. In the end, it makes sense to
choose God. Shall I cast my lot with my
own power, knowing that I can follow my own will for a few decades but do
absolutely nothing about this thing called death? Or shall I cast my lot with God, obediently
submit my life to Him for a few decades knowing full well that He can conquer
death and bring me to Him for life eternal?
The choice is rather simple. That
is always the choice before us.
Moses’ words – God’s
words – continue to call heaven and earth as a witness against us. God desires for us to choose life. Moses desires for us to choose life. All of creation desires for us to choose
life. But ultimately the truth is that
it is still our choice to make. As
individuals and as a community, it is our choice to make.
<><
No comments:
Post a Comment