Life and Death

Many people think that the Bible says that God has already chosen those who are going to be saved. Whether you are doing right things or bad things, if you are already chosen, then you will be saved. But is this right?

The Bible says that God has put life and death in front of us to choose (Deut 30:19). Israel had to choose whether to move out from the bondage in Egypt or to remain, but they would have to abide in the laws of God in order to be accepted by Him.

"If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. As for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh" (Joshua 24:15). There is a blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience; it is up to us whether we follow God's given commandments or not.

"Behold, all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). So it is up to God to act upon which soul has sinned.

Cain and Abel were given the opportunity to sacrifice to God, but Cain chose his way by taking his farming product of the field, ignoring the principle that blood must be shed. Abel's sacrifice was accepted because he chose the right way by bringing an animal sacrifice.

God gives a blessing but it depends upon deeds if the blessing is obtained or not (Ephesians 1:3). God can see any limitations where man cannot. God knows the future, He knows the time of the coming of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Although there are some people who claim to see the future and many people who believe them, it is impossible. "For there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are gods many and lords many, yet for us there is only one God" (1 Cor 8:5). God is bringing us near to him, but there is a condition attached ­ calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13). It depends on what you hear and how you respond.

Bro Fred Mumba (Mufulira, Zambia)