LIFE OR DEATH; WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE

I had a long conversation with a friend of mine a couple of days ago; and that conversation brought back to my remembrance the need to be very cautious of what we focus our mind or thoughts on; because there is an incredible transformational power in what we set our focus on. It is very easy to look at our past and then focus who we are or desire to be today on the experiences of our past. When they are negative, focusing who we are on these experiences can be extremely damaging; but if these experiences are good and favourable, then it can be worth our while as they become virtues that we develop with time.


Better still, is the need to have a high standard than we can deduce from our past experiences; a standard that does not fluctuate due to circumstances around us such as other peoples expectations, political correctness etc. That standard for me is the glory (some may call it beauty or splendour) of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the essence of life; it is the very purpose of our creation by God, so that we may be like Him and His Son. The Bible, on the first day of creation says:

“God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26 Amplified Bible).

This cautiousness also applies to what we say about ourselves. The Bible says:

“A man's [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].” (Proverbs 18:20-21 Amplified bible).

A sequence of experiences can also make a person start to characterise and describe him or herself by past experiences; if they are good you hear the person come up with phrases like I’m rich; I’m famous; I’m intelligent etc; this is not a bad thing to do. But when the experiences are not favourable, one can be drawn into using his or her tongue to make matters worse – they say “when you are in a hole don’t dig” vocalising ones past bad experiences with that distinct negative sense of ownership can sometimes count as a curse. The dictionary reference of the word ‘curse’ as seen below shows that the essence of it’s (curse) existence is the tongue.

–noun
The expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc; a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another; the act of reciting such a formula; a profane oath; curse word; an evil that has been invoked upon one; the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble;

–verb (used with object)
An ecclesiastical censure or anathema; to wish or invoke evil; calamity, injury, or destruction upon; to swear at; to blaspheme; to afflict with great evil; to excommunicate.

–verb (used without object)
To utter curses; Swear profanely.

But even when this is the case, all we need to remember and appropriate is the fact that Jesus Christ, at the Cross of Calvary has made Himself a permanent substitute for anything that represent a curse in our lives. I used the word ‘Appropriate’ because if we do not know what He has provided for us we will naturally not avail ourselves to it. Just as it can be impossible to spend money left to you in the will of a distant uncle you never knew existed and nobody ever told you about him or the money.

But today I can confirm this to you as the Bible says in (Galatians 3:13-14 Amplified bible):

“Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.”

So let us see ourselves as God sees us and not as “fallen” man which we all are, sees us. The Bible says:

“I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life; that you and your descendants may live.” (Deut. 30:19-20)


WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?