A Word from the Word

Choosing Life

 

Psalm 118:17

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.     NIV

It’s so important that we have a positive attitude toward life – that we are not negative, that we are not pessimistic, that we are not death-oriented. I’ve discovered in many people’s lives that one of the most crucial mistakes that a person can make is to say something like this: “I wish I were dead.” You know that a death wish opens the way for all sorts of dark and negative forces to come swarming into your mind and to begin to take you over, and what began as an idle wish can end as a tragic happening.

In the words of Moses to the children of Israel he said, “Behold, I set before you this day life and blessing, death and cursing, therefore choose life that you and your descendants may live.” Do you realize that life requires a choice? We cannot submit to circumstances in passive indifference and say, “What comes will come.” God says, “I’ve set a choice before you. On the one hand, life and blessing; on the other hand, death and cursing.” When God sets a choice before us, we have to make that choice. To make no choice is to choose, choose wrong. So choose life that you and your descendants may live.