---

I. THE ALTERNATIVE PLACED BEFORE ALL MEN. Life or death — good or evil (Psalm 106:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 2:9; John 14:1, 2; Isaiah 35:10).

1. A choice must be made. Death decides for us when it comes (Luke 16:22, 23; Hebrews 9:27), and it may come in an hour (Mark 13:35, 37).

2. The undecided are really decided against God: therefore against "life and good" (John 5:40; John 3:19; 2 Timothy 3:4, 5; Proverbs 1:24-27).

3. The choice, however made, is final and eternal. On the one hand life, love, and happiness for evermore (John 10:28). On the other death and evil eternally (1 Samuel 2:9; Matthew 5:41).

II. THE RESULT OF DECISION FOR GOD (Hebrews 6:18-20; 1 Timothy 6:12).

1. Life (ver. 19). First temporal, as under the law (Exodus 20:12); then life eternal (John 10:10; John 14:19; Hebrews 7:16); for Christ, "who is our life," is eternal (Colossians 3:4).

2. Love (ver. 20; 1 John 4:8, 16). "God is love," therefore if God's life be in us, as John 10:28, then God's love must also be in us.

3. Obedience, "that thou mayest obey His voice" (ver. 20). Yielding to our Father the obedience of love (2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 1:5; 1 Peter 1:2; James 1:23).

4. To dwell in the land of promise (ver. 20). A shadow of a better land — of an inheritance that fadeth not (John 14:1, 2; 1 Peter 1:4, 5). All these blessings resulting from decision for God and good are not for ourselves only, but also for our children (ver. 19; Acts 2:39).

III. THE POWER OF THIS NEW LIFE. "He is thy life" (ver. 20). He is "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25, 26). He is "the Prince of Life" (Acts 3:15). With Him is "the fountain of life." Hence Christ Himself is the power of the new life (1 John 5:12). He alone can by His Spirit quicken (John 5:26). If therefore we desire the life that never fails, that cannot be dissolved (Hebrews 7:16), we must come to Him, that, like St. Paul, we too may say, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:19, 20; John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19, 20; see also vers. 11-14, and Romans 10:4-9).

(H. Linton, M. A.)

---

---

KJV: See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

WEB: Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;