Day 2, Year 1 Make Choices for Eternal Life

“Choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19b NASB)

The word “choose” in Hebrew is bachar, which also means “to elect, or decide for.” In other words, we need to actively make decisions for our own lives. This resolve to actively seek life is crucial as it challenges those who, at the very least, believe in fate or hold the preconceived notion that everything is predetermined.

First, humans often have many choices, rather than being forced to live in a situation without choices. The message of today’s verse is that you could choose and choose life. One reason why many people live in despair or even depressed mood is that they feel they have no choice in life—but this is wrong. As believers continue to read the Bible, we will find that there are many choices that we need to make. The Bible sends us a great message: life is full of choices. Consider the practice of fasting, which is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. A healthy person doesn’t need to eat three meals a day. Instead, believers could occasionally fast for one or two meals and pray to seek God. Thus, if deciding to eat or not is already a choice, what else in our life will be devoid of choice? Very few! Having the right to choose is a sign of having real freedom, which some refer to as free will. Everyone living in this world is inevitably heading toward death. Nonetheless, we will have the opportunity to truly choose the eternal life God grants us if we choose to learn, believe, and obey His Word. 

Second, human “life” could transcend a hundred years or so. The life that we are currently experiencing could not be the entirety of “life.” The Bible, as well as some other religious books, point out that after the death of a person, meaning the permanent separation of body and soul, there are still other forms or states of existence. This verse reveals a truth: people should choose a true life that lasts forever and leads away from the path of destruction. We will continue on the topic of choosing a wonderful life tomorrow.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you think that life is full of choices?

2) Do you believe you could now choose a life that lasts forever? Why?