"Life Is An Active Choice"

As I was reading American Thinker writer, Thomas Lifson's article this morning regarding the passing of actress Debbie Reynolds, my eyes focused on the above titled phrase. Considering that God has given man free moral agency, life is indeed an active choice. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, God told His people through Moses:

"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 descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

God has always given man an active choice — either to obey Him and live, or to disobey Him and die (Joshua 24:14-15). As in Joshua's choice, this writer chooses to obey God and live. In Mr. Lifson's above article, he states: "Most often a spouse dies and the mate soon follows." Why does the mate soon follow? He or she gives up on life and living simply because they don't have a higher calling (or purpose) from God to continue living.

With all of his trials and tribulations (2 Corinthians 11:23-31), the apostle Paul could have easily given up on life, but he knew that he had a higher calling (Philippians 3:1-14) to keep on keeping on preaching and teaching the saving gospel of Christ to people in desperate need of that gospel (Philippians 1:12-26).

Thus, even though my late wife, Nancy, has been on the other side of this earthly life for almost four years (March 2, 2013) she would want me to continue life and living on this side of eternity, and that's exactly what I choose and intend to do. Beloved, "life is an active choice." From the gospel teachings found in this blog, I implore you to "choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" — not only on this side of eternity, but on the other side as well.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets