Life and Death

Every believer, at some point in their life’s history, faces a most important choice: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh. 24:1515And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)). “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow Me.” Matthew’s response: “He arose and followed Him.”
“I would give the world to have your experience,” said a wealthy man to a devoted Christian lady. “That’s just what it cost me,” she replied. “I gave the world for it” (Matt. 6:2424No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)). Choose Christ who said to those who followed Him, “Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world” (John 16:3333These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)).
A Christian employer offered his four employees the choice of a Bible or $20 as a New Year’s gift. The first three took the money, but the fourth, a teenager, said, “As you say the Book is good, I will take it and read it to my mother.” When he opened the Book, it was his great surprise to find inside it a $50 bill! “All shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:3333But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)). “Νο good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psa. 84:1111For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)).
On the tombstone of a French prince is inscribed: “Here lies a man of the best intentions.” And these words would make a truthful epitaph for many another headstone, for many have intended to follow the Lord after accepting Him as their Savior, but failed to put their intentions into actions. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh. 24:1515And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)). “Choose life” (Deut. 30:1919I 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: (Deuteronomy 30:19)).
One Thousand Tales Worth Telling (adapted)