Deuteronomy 30:11-20 vs15
"I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity."

You open a menu and you are faced with a choice. You go into a store to buy a new outfit, and there are racks of choices. Everyday you and I make choices.

This past Monday, a record number of TV viewers choose to watch to see what the Academy's choices were for best movie, best actor, best actress. Some of their choices were easy to make while others more difficult and we struggle with them. So what else is new, isn't it that in life?

Life begins with a choice. Every child is born because at least one person and in most cases 2, made a choice to have a baby. That one choice, to have a baby, leads to a life filled with choices and more choice and more choices.

You have to choose a name, or as in the Andy and Kim situation, three names. Then you have the choice of delivering the child naturally or not, choosing a pediatrician, choosing between breast feeding or bottle feeding.

Once the child or children arrive your choices continue. This morning we baptized Bethanie, Brandon and Brent because Andy and Kim chose to have them baptized.

Their choice to baptize, is a life time choice. We did not fulfill some rite of infancy. We have not dedicated the children. We haven't placed some magical blessing on their head.

Like every parent, who has stood and will stand at the baptismal fount holding their children, a choice is made to raise their children to not only know the love of God, BUT the will of God.

This will be done by praying for them, teaching them how to pray, worshipping, offering yourself to the service of God, and most importantly by your example. By watching the choices you make, Bethanie, Brandon, & Brent will experience the love and will of God or not.
In a very real sense, the challenge of Baptism, is similar to the challenge Moses made to the Israelites,

"I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity."

One might wonder why anyone would choose death and adversity, over life and prosperity, but it is done every day. As a matter of fact, you and I have even made that choice.

When ever we choose to harbor a grudge, instead forgive and forget.

When ever we choose our will over the will of God.

When ever we offer excuses instead of service.

When ever we value the temporary more than the eternal.

When ever we confess with our lips I believe, but our lives say the opposite.

When ever we think the laws of God are optional.

When ever we consider alternatives to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

The choices we make today, are no different then the choices the Israelites had. We may call them by different names, they may be dressed differently, but the choice was simple, life OR death, obedience to God OR disobedience.

As Moses prepared the Israelite to enter the promised land, a trip he knew he was not taking.

He reminded them of God's faithful, and their stubbornness.

He reminded them of God love and their lack their of.

He reminded them of God's covenant, God's promise to be their God.

He reminded them of how God has paved the way for them.

He reminded them of their disobedience and the judgment it brought.

Now, as they are paused to enter the promised land, Moses says basically, this will be the best experience of your life or the worst. The choice is YOURS. Realize however there are consequences to your choices. Obedience to the will of God brings life and prosperity. Disobedience to the will of God brings death and adversity

Most of us don't like to think of God as a God who disciplines. We like to think of God as a loving forgiving God. God may shake his head in disapproval but would never discipline or punish.

That, may be the modern day version of God, but it is NOT the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible IS loving and forgiving. The God of the Bible is also a justice God and a God who has provided for us the correct and incorrect way to live.

Is it the responsibility of the child to raise the parent, to tell the parent what to do? Is it the responsibility of the player to tell the coach how to run the team? Is it the responsibility of the student to instruct the teacher?

Of course not, so it is with God. You and I are not the author of life, God is. Therefore doesn't God have every right to say what kind of behavior is acceptable and what kind of behavior isn't.

God clearly lays out His will and His desire for you and I to follow it. God clearly tells us, what will happen if we obey and what will happen if we disobey. God's reasoning, He loves us. God also says, "It's YOUR choice."

Moses said, "I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity." Further on he adds, "Choose life."
Is this any different from the words of Jesus who said, "I am the truth, the way and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you love me you will keep my commandments." Jesus also added, "Follow me!"

So what's your choice going to be, life or death?
What is the reasoning for your choice, love for God or love of self?, will of God or will of self? There will be consequences to either choice.

Obedience is LIFE. Disobedience is DEATH

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