The verse Deuteronomy 30:19 states “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” This verse comes near the end of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. It summarizes a key theme throughout Deuteronomy – that the people had a choice before them, to obey and follow God’s ways which would lead to life and blessing, or to disobey and face death and curse. Let’s explore the meaning behind “choose life” in this verse:
Choosing Between Life and Death
“Choose life” refers first to a physical choice the Israelites faced. If they obeyed God, they would dwell securely in the Promised Land and live long lives (Deut 30:16). If they disobeyed, they would be exiled and killed by their enemies (Deut 28:63-68). Obedience meant life in the land; disobedience meant death at the hands of enemies. God wanted His people to choose the path of obedience that would lead to their survival and thriving. This applied beyond the immediate future too – obedience over generations would lead to ongoing life in the land.
But “choose life” has a deeper spiritual meaning too. Obedience to God is ultimately a choice between life and death in a broader sense. Spiritually speaking, life is blessings, joy and close relationship with God. Death is distance and separation from God. Deut 30:19-20 says choosing life means “loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him.” Close relationship with God is true spiritual life. Disobedience and distance from God lead to spiritual death. So obedience leads to physical and spiritual life, which are intertwined.
Life Through Christ
Importantly, because of human sinfulness, no one can perfectly obey God and earn spiritual life. The law shows the path of obedience leading to life, but ultimately no one can walk that path flawlessly (Romans 3:20). Perfect obedience was fulfilled only by Jesus Christ. He says “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Only through faith in Christ are we given new spiritual life and declared righteous before God (Romans 3:21-26). When we trust in Christ, we receive eternal life as an undeserved gift from God (Romans 6:23).
So only in Christ can the full meaning of “choose life” be realized. All fall short of God’s standard of obedience leading to life. But God sent His Son to fulfill that standard of obedience in our place, and gives His life to all who believe in Him. God’s desire and offer of life is ultimately fulfilled through believing in Christ.
A Continuing Choice
While salvation in Christ is received by faith alone, obedience to God continues to be important for believers. After choosing eternal life in Christ by faith, Christians are called to continue making choices each day that lead to blessings and spiritual growth versus sin and death (Romans 6:11-14, Galatians 5:16-17). We cannot earn salvation through obedience, but obedience can help us experience the abundant life Christ promises (John 10:10). Obeying and pursuing God leads to blessings; persistent sin over time can lead to spiritual dryness and death. As believers, we must continue choosing life through faith-empowered obedience to God.
Choosing Life for Our Descendants
Deuteronomy 30:19 says to “choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” The choices we make don’t just affect us but future generations too. Godly living provides a heritage of blessing for descendants, while sin often brings painful consequences for generations to come. The most important way we enable life for our offspring is by passing on faith in Christ, the only source of eternal life. But our daily obedience also impacts our families – it creates an environment where biblical virtues can be nurtured and spiritual health can grow. Choosing life means choosing to live and parent in ways that help our children experience the blessings of knowing and serving God.
An Urgent Choice
Moses presents choosing life as an urgent choice the Israelites had to make in that moment before entering Canaan. Similarly, choosing life through faith in Christ is an urgent choice every person must make for themselves at some point. None of us are guaranteed years to come back to it later. And beyond the initial choice to receive Christ, we should re-choose life each day by pursuing close relationship with God and obedience to His ways. As Moses pleaded with the Israelites to choose life by obeying God, God also urgently pleads with all people today to choose life found only in His Son Jesus Christ.
In summary, to “choose life” means:
- Choosing to obey God’s commands which lead to physical preservation and blessings
- Choosing relationship with God which leads to spiritual life rather than death
- Choosing to receive eternal life by faith in Christ alone
- Choosing daily obedience as believers to experience the abundant life Christ gives
- Choosing to parent and live in a godly manner so our descendants experience the blessings of serving God
- Making an urgent choice to receive and walk in the life God offers in Christ
The stakes of choosing life versus death are high. Through faith in Christ and a lifestyle of obeying God’s wisdom, we can experience the fullness of blessing, life and relationship with God He desires for us.
