"I call heaven and earth as witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life that you and your descendants may live..."

Deuteronomy 30:19, RSV

 

Today is the last day of the Thirty Day Challenge to read through the Books of Moses. If you have made it this far, then you know a great deal about the first 2,600 years of man's existence on this planet. You have read the entire history of the Patriarchal age, and have read the history of the beginning of the Mosaic age. And while it is true that we are no longer under the laws of either dispensation, you have learned many of the eternal principles of God which will never change, even during the Christian age in which we live. 

 

And you have learned something that most people simply do not care to know: God requires obedience!

 

But along with that requirement you have read of the tremendous blessings that flow from obedience. You have learned that these blessings come because He loves His creation. You have seen over and over how He will indeed punish those He loves if they refuse to obey, but how He gives opportunity after opportunity for His disobedient children to come back to Him, if only they will do so on His terms. 

 

Now let me bring to your attention some of the great promises that He makes for those He loves. It is true that they are made to those who lived under the Law of Moses, but the eternal principles and promises made concerning love for God and obedience to His commands are just as applicable today as they were the day they were first given:

 

"The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hands... for the LORD will again take delight in prospering you as He took delight in your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in the book of law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul." Deut. 30:9-10, RSV

 

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach... No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." Deut. 30:11 & 14, NIV

 

"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction." Deut. 30:15, NIV

 

"Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life..." Deut. 30:19-20, NIV

 

"He said to them, 'Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life...'" Deut, 32:46-47, NIV 

 

Today is day 30 of the 30 day challenge. The reading for today is Deuteronomy 30-34. If you have read each chapter of this challenge, then you may have accomplished something you have never done before. Now, if you have the desire to continue your studies, I want to give you a new challenge that begins tomorrow. Until then, may God richly bless your efforts as you seek to know everything you can about the Creator who loved you so much that He allowed His only Son to die in order that you might live for all eternity!