A Life or Death Choice! (John 5: 16)

   Back in Deuteronomy 30: 14-20, Moses references the choice we all have, to choose life or death.  “But the word (of God) is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart (the kingdom of heaven), that thou mayest do it.  See, I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil.  In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgements, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shall be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall perish.”  

   Sounds very similar to the choice God gave to Adam and Eve, but in their imagination (Genesis 3: 4-6) they reasoned, “Did God really say that?”  Turning to the law of the flesh as John describes in I John 2:16, they partook of the forbidden fruit. “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.  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, and the length of thy days.” All accomplished by acknowledging the work of the Holy Spiri ...