Many of the most “brilliant” minds of our time do not believe that God exists or that we can really know that He exists. Most of their doubt comes from the fact that they have not seen, heard or touched Him. In other words they have no empirical evidence; that which is proved or derived from observation or experiment.

Yet, what is ignored is the preponderance of circumstantial evidence or indirect proof of God’s existence. Perhaps when we hear the term circumstantial evidence we have a tendency to not give it credibility because of the way in which it is bandied about on television and in other mediums.

If we were to go to sleep tonight and wake up the next morning to find that the whole city or county had a foot of snow covering it, we would think that we had direct proof that it snowed. But this isn’t the case. Even though there was no snow when we went to sleep and a foot when we woke up, this would still be circumstantial evidence. We didn’t see it snow so we couldn’t testify to the fact that it did, BUT it would be entirely ludicrous to assume otherwise.

In the same way this is a case for the existence of God.

Around us is all the proof that we will ever need that God does indeed exist. In Romans 1:20 it states, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

God says there is no legitimate reason that any one can give when Christ returns for being an atheist, because of the overwhelming evidence that was there all along. The more technically sophisticated man becomes, the more we are able to see just that, in the most minute, as well as the most grand of scale. With each advancement we make we can see more and more that there is a great design too incredible to have happened by chance.

If anyone saw a watch they would assume that someone produced the watch. When they look at its design and careful organization they would have to conclude that it required a designer. Even though they did not see it produced, its mere existence proves this.

As we look at the entire universe in its magnificence, the only conclusion that we can come to is that this creation and its design points to God who designed and created it. There truly are too many illustrations and occurrences of the fact that God exists to enumerate and expand on them here. However, if we have an eye to see, His handiwork, His circumstantial evidence will declare that He does exist without a doubt.

Images of death are all around us. We switch on the television news and right there in our living rooms are images of people dying or being killed, with all the trauma and upset that the bereaved go through. We pick up a newspaper and similar images assail us. We can become somewhat anaesthetized by the regularity of pain and suffering of others. But, when it comes close to home, our focus and attention are sharpened.

Both my wife and I have lost our fathers this year. They were “old and full of years”; nevertheless, when it happened, it was still a painful experience. More recently, two deaths occurred in our local congregation – after much suffering that preceded them.

While those of us who have been called into the Church and have been given the precious knowledge of God’s truth still grieve for the loss of a loved one, the understanding of future events is most comforting. Uniquely, we know that our loved ones who have never been called in this life will have their first opportunity, and those who died in the faith will be in God’s Kingdom at the first resurrection. What fabulous knowledge!

At the Feast of Tabernacles in England this year, we had a most marvelous piece of special music titled, “New Heavens, New Earth.” The words, “God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain,” are taken from Revelation 21:4. What knowledge could be more inspiring? The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26), and death is to be swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). We know that death is an enemy that will be removed.

When a family member, a relative, a church member, a friend or an acquaintance dies, we can be saddened and it can weigh heavily on our minds. We also understand, however, that life here and now is temporary, and that our great Creator God has so much more in store for us in the future. We have to have that vision – and how comforting that can be.

This week much of the world has watched the presidential elections in the United States. People understand that the leadership of this nation will influence the course of events for the entire planet.

History is in many ways a chronicle of leaders: emperors, kings and queens, presidents, premiers, popes, priests, ayatollahs, chancellors, governors, generals, mayors–these and many, many more have shaped this world.

Entire generations have hung their hopes–indeed their very lives–on the promises or the commands of someone who holds a powerful or influential office. A new leader can electrify the hopeful with grandiose promises, but, as history has so often shown, the old leader once stood for these same unanswered dreams.

Bad leadership is the rule–it is certainly not the exception! There is a reason for this, and that reason falls on the shoulders of Satan the devil and his angels, the demons. They are the spiritual rulers of this age (Compare 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14-15). Consider what Satan boasted to Jesus Christ: “‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I WISH'” (Luke 4:6).

Jesus recognized that, for the time being, Satan was “‘the ruler of this world'” (John 16:11). However, Jesus also made this remarkable statement about Himself: “‘…be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD'” (John 16:33). When asked by Pilate if He was the King of the Jews, Jesus answered: “‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world…'” (John 18:37). At the same time, He mentioned to Pilate that he “could have no power at all” against Him, “unless it had been given to [him] from above” (John 19:11). God is in overall control, and although He has not yet replaced Satan as the ruler of this world, He will intervene in human affairs, to appoint, at critical times, over the kingdom of men whomever He chooses (Daniel 5:21; 4:17, 32) — to see to it that prophecy is being fulfilled. You might want to listen, in this regard, to our sermon of July 3, 2004, titled,
“Who is in Control?”

Jesus pointedly told His disciples that “‘I WILL COME AGAIN…'” (John 14:3). Two of God’s faithful angels proclaimed the same message to the stunned disciples following Christ’s resurrection and at the time of His ascension to the Father: “‘This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven'” (Acts 1:11).

This good news is the only true hope for this world! As “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), we proclaim this hope in the continuing work of the Church which Jesus Christ now leads (Compare Matthew 24:14). As representatives of Jesus, we also follow His lead–we no longer follow the lead of Satan and those to whom he gives authority and who practice his deeds.

As Christians we are to pray for the humans who now rule and to submit ourselves to their laws (Compare 1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7). Foremost, this kind of approach is how God requires us to act if He is ruling in our lives. The only exception is if man’s laws are against God’s laws (Compare Acts 4:19; 5:29).

Who leads the nations of this world at this time is not the most important issue facing Christians. God has preserved a warning for those who are called to His way of life: “‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins and lest you receive of her plagues'” (Revelation 18:4). This is a message for all of the people of God throughout the ages and leading up to the promised return of Jesus Christ.

Until then, it might be good to regularly check up on where we each stand, and to ask ourselves, “who leads us?”

The previous Editorial written by this author was entitled “Choose Righteously!” That Editorial addressed the necessity of living our lives righteously. But what is the ultimate objective of God in His requirement of our making right decisions? We have just completed our observance of the Feast of Tabernacles for 2004. We previewed once again, according to God’s instructions, the wonderful world which will soon be established on this earth — 1,000 years of perfect rulership by Christ and those who qualify to rule under Him, during this coming Millennium — and a subsequent 100 year period, called the Great White Throne Judgment. During that time all who have ever lived without knowing God’s Truth, will have an opportunity to choose to live their lives according to God’s Way — to live righteously!

But who will do the ruling? And how will they rule?

While only a handful of this world’s population kept the Feast of Tabernacles this year according to the commandment, we are told in Zechariah 14:16-19 that all peoples of the earth at the beginning of the Millennium will go up to worship God and to keep His Feast at the appointed time! All will be taught the Truth of God’s Way and He will enforce the obedience to that Way throughout the world! In Revelation 2:26-27 Christ tells us that: “…he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him will be given power over the nations.” And that “He (this one who keeps His works) will rule over them with a rod of iron.” (Notice in the KJV that this “he” is not capitalized, thus showing the translator’s understanding that this refers to the one who overcomes). Christ shows that He also received such authority from the Father (verse 27).

But what is this “rod of iron” with which those who overcome will rule? A rod in the hand of a ruler is also referred to as a scepter — a symbol of one’s authority. To give one a scepter is to vest in such a one the authority to rule. A king over a nation will carry such a symbol of his authority. What does God reveal to us about this in Hebrews 1:8? Notice: “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.'” Yes, Jesus Christ will rule the nations with a scepter of righteousness! And if we have qualified to rule with Him, we will rule with that same scepter of righteousness.

In Proverbs 29:2 we read: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Isaiah prophesies that: “…a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice” (Isaiah 32:1). In Isaiah 30:20-21 we are told: “…though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” They will rule according to Psalms 111:7-8 (KJV), which reveals: “…All His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever…” And Isaiah 11:9 adds: “The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.” Daniel tells us that: “…the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18). Verse 27 reveals: “Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

Christ discussed our future as He taught His disciples while on the earth. In Luke 22:29-30 He said: “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:2, asked of those of the Church in Corinth: “Do you not know that the saints will rule the world?” And John, speaking to the seven churches in Asia, stated that Jesus Christ: “…has made us kings and priests to His God and Father…” In Revelation 22:12, Christ states: “…I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

This Feast which we have just observed was a wonderful blessing to those who have remained faithful to God or who are being drawn to God at this time, and who observed the festival as God has commanded. It spoke to us of this soon coming Kingdom and the wonderful opportunity we will have if we continue in this Way and are faithful to Him; to His commandments, statutes and judgments, whereby He continues to rule. If we are faithful, we will have a part in ruling with Jesus Christ with the “rod of iron” with which He will rule, to establish the righteousness of God’s Way of Life!

From all the reports that we have received, attendees at our Feast sites in the United States and England had an enjoyable, uplifting and spiritually refreshing time. The messages that were delivered should help us on our journey toward the Kingdom of God. As the old saying goes, “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). Feast messages, as well as weekly Sabbath sermons, are given by God’s “preachers” or ministers, as well as those who have been selected by the ministry: “And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (verse 15).

Many understand the need for true and faithful ministers of Christ, who have proven, through their service and dedication to the truth, that they CAN be trusted. But due to the disappointments in times past, when the teaching, behavior and approach by certain ministers fell far short of the required standard, some have concluded that NO minister can or should be followed. They have set themselves on a course of constant criticism
— trying to find fault with the messages delivered — only to find a reason as why NOT to follow.

This is not the attitude we ought to have regarding true and faithful ministers of God. Rather, “As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!'” (Romans 10:15).

It is true, of course, that we are not to follow a minister — even a true minister of God — when he deviates from the Word of truth or acts in a way that is opposed to true Christianity. This does not mean, however, that we are to spend all of our time in desperately looking for mistakes. Since nobody is perfect, mistakes will be made, and if we look long and hard, we will find them. If that is all we are looking for, we are judged by the Bible as self-righteous, proud, and contentious. This is not the attitude, which the proverbial Bereans had. Rather, we read: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all READINESS, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They did not accept and follow blindly, what was preached. They compared what was said with the Scriptures. They SEARCHED the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. Notice, however: They did NOT search the Scriptures to “establish” that these things were NOT so. Their attitude was one of wanting to accept the truth, not one of wanting to find error!

What was the consequence? “THEREFORE many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men” (verse 12).

The ministry of God is here to serve and feed God’s sheep. God’s sheep will recognize the voice of God, as it is being preached through His shepherds, and they will follow them (John 10:1-5). This is the attitude we ought to have toward God’s ministry, as so strongly and boldly put by John, an apostle of Jesus Christ: “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us” (1 John 4:6). Didn’t Christ Himself say: “If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20)? And: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” (John 17:20)?

Someone who rejects God’s ministers, thinking that he has no need of them, is in mortal spiritual danger. God gave the ministry to the body of Christ to edify, strengthen and enlighten the body (compare Ephesians 4:11-16).

Paul encouraged the brethren to follow him, as he followed Christ. He URGED the brethren to follow or imitate him (1 Corinthians 4:16). He said: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). He reminded the Thessalonians that they “became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Paul did not preach: “Don’t trust us! Rely on your own understanding. There is no minister whom you could trust or follow.” No, Paul preached exactly the opposite.

Paul had proven, through his converted life, that he was approved of God. And as such, he could and should be followed. He held fast the faithful word as he had been taught (compare Titus 1:9). He, as well as all of those with the same mindset, kept and would keep Christ’s word, never denying His name (compare Revelation 3:8).

In these last days, God has preserved faithful ministers to lead and serve His body — the Church. Christ said that the “gates of hell (in Greek, Hades)” would never prevail against it (Matthew 16:18), and that He would be always with His Church — until the very end of this age (Matthew 28:19-20). For, so He said, the gospel of the kingdom of God will be preached (through God’s faithful ministry, which is supported by the body of Christ) in all the world as a witness unto all nations, and THEN the end WILL come (Matthew 24:14). The end has not yet arrived. The Church of God still has a job to do. And true and faithful ministers are needed, as well as the loyal and dedicated flock, to carry out this job. Many are waiting to hear God’s truth: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). And so, Paul continues, as we read earlier: “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (verse 14). This world, as well as God’s Church, NEEDS true ministers of God. Christ tells us that we are to pray: “…The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore PRAY the Lord of the harvest to SEND OUT laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Why the ministry? To help fulfill the job that God has given His Church to do. And what a great and awesome job it is!

During the Feast of Tabernacles that we just finished observing, there were many “meaty” messages. One of the themes that emerged during this time was that the Kingdom of God should be the most important priority in our life. We have all heard this at one time or another in our lives, but it was particularly poignant at the feast this year and rightly so.

There is NOTHING that is more critical, outstanding, pressing, essential, pre-eminent, foremost, grave, imperative, prominent, meaningful, momentous, substantial, remarkable, paramount, relevant, serious, crucial, significant, urgent and vital. This is and should be our number one motivation.

When we weigh the differences between a physical temporal life and an eternal spiritual life the latter wins hands down. This life that we are living here and now on this earth cannot be compared with what awaits us as
part of the God Family. What would we do that we might attain such a great reward? What wouldn’t we do?

Spending eternity in the God Family is a gift that God has offered to us if we do as He has commanded. Though it cannot be earned there are still many things He asks of us. These are the things that we are to be doing NOW. Let’s take the spiritual rejuvenation and impetus gained at the feast and refocus our efforts on our first love, the Kingdom of God.

To learn more about these subjects we suggest our booklets: God’s Commanded Holy Days, God is a Family and The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

To some people, godly obedience is a small matter in their daily lives, as if it really was unimportant or too insignificant to ponder for any degree of time. Even when faced with clear and unambiguous commands and instruction from God, some find excuses and human reasoning for not obeying. Let us look at a few examples of disobedience and how they impacted individuals, and more importantly, how God viewed them. In 1 Samuel 15:3, Saul was given very specific instructions regarding the attack on Amalek: “… utterly destroy ALL that they have, and do not spare them.” They were to kill all the animals, women, infants and the men. In other words, NONE were to be spared.

Now let us look at what happened. As recorded in 1 Samuel 15:7-9, Saul spared Agag the king and the best of the animals. This was a clear violation of the instructions given by God. What was God’s reaction? Verse 11 reports God’s words: “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” God was regretting having set up Saul as king because of his disobedience. We get a little more understanding about this by what Samuel says about God’s mind, in verses 22-23: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. [Notice the consequences of his blatant disobedience in the latter part of this verse:] Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you from being king.”

This was a high price to pay for disobedience, for using human reasoning around a clear command. This world has been doing the same thing since the dawn of man — using human reasoning as an excuse not to obey clear commands from God.

Take the Sabbath, for example. The command is clear — it is from God — yet mankind uses human reasoning, such as, “Yes, we should set a day aside for worship, so we will use Sunday.” The problem with this line of reasoning is that God did not give us the prerogative of choice which day to hallow. Man has only the prerogative of obedience. Is it any wonder our nations are cursed? The importance of obedience is clearly demonstrated and unequivocally stated in Acts 5:32: “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom [better: which] God has given to those who OBEY HIM.” God is not going to give His Spirit to those who blatantly disobey, be it in regard to the Sabbath, clean and unclean meats, tithing or any other clear and unambiguous command or instruction.

As we go about living our Christian lives, let us remember the importance of obedience and how imperative it is in God’s mind to reflect on the words of Christ in Luke 16:10: “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much…”

Let us not apply human reasoning as Saul did and was rejected by God — but rather, let’s be willing to obey ALL that we have been commanded to do. Then, instead of being rejected, we can look forward to the glorious words of Christ: “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Christianity is not for doubters!

You see, a follower of what is right and true must not equivocate. In the life of Jesus Christ, we do find struggles, but it was always a matter of overcoming and not giving in to sin. In His case, it was an issue of obeying and saying what was right and refusing to disobey.

For those around Him, this authoritative confidence of approach was shocking. When He taught in their synagogue on the Sabbath, we find this record of His impact: “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22).

On another occasion, officers were sent to arrest Jesus: “Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’ ” (John 7:45-46).

For those in whom Jesus Christ is living today, the same must be true! Indeed, some will take exception to one who boldly lives by and says, what is true. If fact, some will be offended, and–as prophecy shows–some will persecute and even kill those who resolutely stand in the truth.

We live in a time of blended opinions. Christianity now suffers because its purported advocates really don’t stand up for the right and true way. Rather, accomodations have led to a watering down of the potent message of true Christianity!

James describes those who approach God without faith, that is, doubting, in this way: “…for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). In verse 8, this thought is added: “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Merely thinking that we are right and true is not enough. It takes more than just a positive approach. Consider that the very basis for how Jesus was able to fulfill His mission on this earth was His total reliance on God (Compare John 5:19).

James also made this key statement for us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Like Jesus, our source for what is right and true must be God.

Because what Jesus did was done in God, He was filled with the confidence of faith–He was sure about His teachings; about the work God had given to Him to accomplish; about the purpose of His life; and about His resurrection to eternal life; in fact, He was so sure that He was willing to lay down His life!

How sure are we?

Recently in the U.K., the Butler report on the Iraq war was released to the public. Lord Butler concluded that in spite of billions of pounds spent, scores of British soldiers killed, 11,500 civilians dead, no weapons of mass destruction found, no immediate threat proven, flawed intelligence, Parliament and the British public having been misled — no one was to blame.

It appears that it is never our fault. Today, taking responsibility for our actions is so rare that it provokes comment. As one commentator said, “It is a cruel irony of modern life that the only people who can regularly be relied on to accept – indeed, to claim – responsibility for their actions are terrorist bombers. Elsewhere, in almost every sphere of activity, society seems to be in retreat, in denial.” However, while terrorists who bomb innocent civilian targets usually do accept responsibility for doing their terrible deed, they then blame the target for what they’ve done. For example, the 9/11 attacks in New York “had” to be carried out because of the “great Satan” (America).

Where did this all begin? Right at the dawn of civilization! Right at the beginning – where else? Genesis 3: 12 states: “Then the man said, ’The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.'”

The first man, Adam, said in effect, “It’s not my fault – YOU, God, made the woman – it’s all Your fault – here I was, after naming the animals, You took a rib out of me while I was asleep and made the woman – and she made me do it. SHE gave me the fruit – it’s not my fault! And if You hadn’t allowed the serpent into the garden, none of this would have happened!” Doesn’t that approach sound rather familiar?

And in the following verse, it states: “And the Lord God said to the woman, “‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ’The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'”

Now Eve climbs on the “no fault” bandwagon. No hint of apology or admission of wrongdoing. No sign of it whatsoever from either Adam or Eve. And that’s where the attitude of “It’s not my fault” all started from. It has shown no signs of abating in the last 6,000 years, although there have been honorable people, at times, who admitted when they were wrong. There have been some who have taken responsibility for the consequences of their actions. But they were the exceptions — and today, we live in a “no blame,” “no fault” society where other things or other people are the problem – never the self. That is how the world reacts and behaves. It is a blatantly dishonest approach when people are clearly at fault. But human nature, being what it is, doesn’t like to admit guilt.

Our approach — the approach of truly converted Christians — must be diametrically opposite. When we are wrong, we should admit our failings and guilt. Anything other than that would be lying – and therefore breaking one of the Ten Commandments. We may look at the ways of this world and make the commitment not to follow them. We are to be different – and this is just one area that proves the point.

Next time we are wrong on some matter and we may think – even for just a fraction of a second — that we can get out of it, by blaming someone or something else, let us remember that we will have to give account to God for OUR actions and reactions. That should really motivate us to admit our wrongs and change for the better. Let us not deceive ourselves. When we sin, it is our fault!

Mankind, from the beginning of his existence on the earth, has had the responsibility that comes with the opportunity to choose the way he would live his life. It seems that, for the most part, mankind has made the wrong choice!

Eve, when confronted by the serpent, Satan the devil (who originally was the cherub Lucifer), to take of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or to continue to remain obedient to God and His way of life, made the wrong choice. Adam followed the example of his wife (Genesis 3). Until this wrong decision was made, no sin existed in the earth on the part of mankind. But with their decision, a whole new approach to life on the earth came into existence for man.

That wrong decision made by Adam and Eve led to a world of violence. In Genesis, chapter 6, verse 5, God reveals that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.” God came to regret that He had created mankind, and actually made the decision to destroy man from the earth (verses 6-7).

But, we are told that one man had made the choice not to follow the direction of those around him, and thus, found grace in the eyes of the LORD (verse 8). This man, Noah, “…was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (verse 9). Because of the choice made by this one man, God decided that He would allow life to continue on the earth for mankind, starting over with this one righteous man and his family (plus, of course, the animals brought onto the ark).

Because of the right choices of Abraham, God chose Israel as the nation He would work through to continue to carry His Way on the earth, insofar as the literal obedience to His Law was concerned. In Deuteronomy 30, after the LORD had delivered Israel from the hands of the Egyptians and had revealed to them once again His righteous and perfect Law, He said to them, in verse 15: “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply….”

He told them in verse 19, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life that both you and your descendents may live….”

God tells us He does not change (Malachi 3:6). His directive to mankind is the same, today, as it was then! All people of the world make choices, every day, whether they will live righteously or not. But there is one critical difference. While the world continues to go its evil way, God has called a group of people to Himself; a people called by His name; to come out from the evil ways of the world, and to live their lives based upon His laws, His statutes, and His judgments!

Each of us being called to this way of life, make choices every day. Will we obey God or not? Will we walk in His Way or not? Will we attempt to worship Him in a false way, by following ideologies or doctrines He did not give us, thus effectively worshipping false gods? Will we bow down to gods made with human hands, wooden or stone images? Will we dishonor God by being irreverent to His name? Will we faithfully keep and properly observe His Sabbath and His Holy Days?

Will we kill another human being, for instance in war, or even murder him in our thoughts through the sin of hatred? Will we allow lust and the evil of adultery to consume us? Will we steal that which belongs to others, including our brethren, or steal that which is rightfully belonging to God in our failure to give to Him the tithes and offerings He requires? Will we lie or bear false witness against our neighbor or God? Will we covet that which does not belong to us, thus sinning against our God?

The world finds itself today once again in the throes of evil, continually. But God has His eyes on those in the earth called by His Name! Judgment is now on the house of God! And with every decision we come to; with every choice we make; God is taking notice! He is ready and able to help in times of need (Psalm 34: 15, 16-20, 22). Will we do what is right in reference to Him, in reference to our mates and our children, and in reference to our neighbor? Each time we break a law of God, it is the result of a wrong choice we have made!

Noah was righteous before God, as were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. David was a man after God’s own heart. Jesus Christ walked upon the earth in the flesh and lived a perfect life. Each of these men had to make choices every day. God was pleased overall with the choices they made, and of course, in the case of Christ, He was always pleased.

God has called you and me at this time; He has given us His Spirit and His Law; and He has said to us: “Choose life!” What choices will you make, today? Will God be pleased? Judgment is now — on the house of God!