Fountains of Wisdom A Study in Proverbs (Part 34) Choose Life
There is a choice that lies before mankind since the moment of creation. It was the choice given to Adam. As clear as could be presented, God had given Adam the chance to choose life or choose death and that choice is laid before each person who has been born on this earth. Were you to ask most people, they would quickly tell you “I don’t want to die.” Yet, at that same moment they choose death over life by rejecting the only source of real life which is found in a relationship with God. When God created man, God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen 2:7) With that act, God had given man life overflowing, abundant filled with innocence, righteousness, glory and joy. Everything beautiful had been handed to Adam with that one choice placed before him—choose life or choose death. If you eat of this tree you will die. We know he chose death; whatever, the excuses given or the reasons—He chose death which was the spiritual separation from the fountain of life found in God. Now life would be drudgery, misery, defeat and despair because of the separation from perfect love and perfect righteousness which is God.
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Just as darkness is the absence of light, death is the absence of life. Spiritual life comes from a relationship with God; thus, absence of a relationship with God is eternal spiritual death. There might be moments in everyone’s life in which they experience the exuberant joy that being Alive in Christ could bring; because God in His mercy and grace provided just enough of His beauty, majesty and glory in this fallen world so that mankind could see and experience glimpses of spiritual life and thereby have the chance to choose-life or death. Glimpses of Glory ever before us in the first cry of a baby that is born, the beauty of a sunrise, the flowers as they begin to bloom in the spring, or the exuberant joy of falling in love–all of these glimpses of life are ever present before us.
Proverbs 19: (AMP)16 He who keeps the commandment [of the Lord] keeps his own life, but he who despises His ways shall die.(AMP)23 The reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied; he cannot be visited with [actual] evil.
This choice God places before each and every person born. He pleads, He
places the choices before us ever so Graciously. He guides us ever closer to understanding that He is Life—not just some existence that is humdrum struggles searching for that which can never fulfill our hearts. He is the our outpouring source of what can make us Fully Alive, Vibrant, Joyous, and Overflowing with Love. Oh,true, these outward bodies may age and become dust. There may be aching, pain, and suffering on this earth; but, the heart that is filled with God’s fountain of life remains Alive and vibrant. I will never forget that sparkle of life and that vibrant spirit within my 104 year old grandfather before he went home to be with the Lord. At 104, his greatest desire was to tell one more person about His Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
God presents life before you and even paid the price that you might live. He offers this as a gift. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23(KJV)
Deuteronomy 30: (KJV)19 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:20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life,
Proverbs 19:(GNV)21 Many devices are in a [g]man’s heart: but the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
So, for all those who do not know the Lord, I ask which do you choose life or death?
For all those who know Christ as their Savior I ask, do you choose to live the joyous abundant life that He has given you or do you choose to wallow in misery like the living dead?
CHOOSE LIFE [Big Tent Revival]
CHOOSE LIFE [Big Tent Revival]
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© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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