Which Path Will You Choose?

Read Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Context: This is part of one of the last speeches of Moses as he leads Israel through the desert. This is part of the renewal of the covenant with God, and comes just before the passage we read about Joshua last week.

Text
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Hmm...seems like an easy choice, doesn't it? Who in their right mind would choose death over life, curses over blessings?

Yet as we stand in that fork in the path, the choice gets more difficult. Down the Path of Life we see a very narrow way with thorns on all sides and thick roots that could cause you to trip. There is a guide in a bright white robe to help us, but often he seems just out of reach. The briars on the left side are shorter, and you can see across to what looks like a much smoother path.

The other choice, the Path of Death, is smoothly paved and wide enough for several to walk together. People are dancing and laughing -- it looks like a lot of fun. There are concession stands along the way, bright lights and jazzy music, and tables laden with food for the taking.

But you can't see how the paths change just over the hill. The lights, sounds, and smells of the Path of Death become stronger and stronger until your whole body fights against it and you can't seem to get away. The others on the path are so focused on themselves that they don't care about your struggle. The wide path descends into a slimy pit; the grade is so slight that you don't realize you are there until it is too late to turn back.

And just over the hill on the Path of Life you see people all along the sides who are there to help you over the rough spots. There are ups and downs along the way...and on the peaks the view is magnificent. At the end of the path there is a fabulous mansion in the clouds with your name on it.

Unfortunately, all of us choose the wide path at some point in our lives. But even as we walk toward the pit we notice there is someone following along in the trees just off the side of the path. He tells us that no matter how far down the path we have walked, it isn't too late to change our minds. If we will follow him he will take us to the Path of Life.

Thank you, Jesus, for not losing sight of me even when I stray off of your path.