Joel M Bradshaw

15See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, 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.

17But 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, 18I 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.

19This day I call the heavens and the 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 20and 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.–Deuteronomy 30, emphasis

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, emphasis)

In Context: Moses was concluding his time with the Israelites. He gave them one final moment regarding the covenant. Everyone was to make a personal decision to live the daily discipline of obedience to God. And that choice came with either consequences or blessings.

For us: We are not ancient Israel. But we look forward to one like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15) leading us to Heaven, our “Promised Land.” He is the Messiah, Jesus. And the only way to the Father is through Him. He is the life and we are to choose to follow Him. Thus, the new covenant isn’t merely a set of principles, but a relationship with Jesus. Choose life, my friends.–JMB