Either Life or Deatth

TAKE TO HEART ALL THE WORDS I HAVE SOLEMNLY DECLARED TO YOU THIS DAY. Deuteronomy 32.46

It is interesting to note that the Word of God, the Bible, is the only book in the world that reveals the mind and will of God for all people. Unlike other books written by men, the Bible, God’s Book, tells many great and wonderful things about itself. The Psalmist says, “It is a light to your path and a lamp to your feet”. It simply means that by reading it you can get direction and guidance.

Today’s verse contain words spoken by Moses, the great man of God, to the people of Israel. There was no written Bible at that time. God spoke to Moses and he spoke to the people. Later these were written down and saved for posterity, by God’s grace. What Israel had in writing during Moses’ days was probably only the TEN COMMANDMENTS written by the finger of God and handed to him on Mount Sinai. Moses recorded for the people THE SOCIO-CEREMONIAL LAWS which also the LORD ALMIGHTY gave to him.

Hear what Moses told the people about those COMMANDMENTS AND LAWS: “SET YOUR HEARTS ON ALL THE WORDS WHICH I TESTIFY AMONG YOU...IT IS YOUR LIFE!” How true it is! God’s Law is life and keeping it gives life! To the Israelites, it was literally true as the punishment for breaking most of those LAWS was death – often by stoning! Today just because the Lord has postponed judgment for our sins, don’t be mistaken, judgment will come!

Adam and Eve went against God’s Word and lost the privilege to live forever. They received God’s curse, and sorrow, pain and death became their portion. Cain broke God’s Word and killed his brother and was cursed. Pharaoh went against God’s Word and lost his life and the lives of his people. The children of Israel disobeyed God’s Word and a whole generation of over 2 million people lost their lives in the wilderness. The mighty Samson lost his life like a fool, for he blatantly disobeyed God’s Word and committed adultery against God. King Saul lost his kingship and kingdom when he disobeyed God’s Word. Solomon, the wisest king and whom God loved, lost God’s favour when he ignored God’s Word and increased wealth, wives, horses and ‘gods’. Friends the list is endless!

The great pity is that we know the Word of God and the inevitable consequences of breaking it and yet how lightly we take the Word! How foolishly we break it. King Saul at the end of his life bemoaned, “I played the fool with my life!” Are you playing the fool by taking lightly God’s Word and disobeying it carelessly? The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Gal 5.7,8). I know of too many dear believers who have messed up their lives and are still messing up by deliberately going against God’s clear Word! I would to God that they repent!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me by Your Spirit to keep Your Word and live by it because “YOUR WORD IS EITHER LIFE OR DEATH TO ME!” Amen.