February 16, 2020 Text: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Dear Friends in Christ,
“How much longer do I have?” Don’t we all at one time or another take a look at our life expectancy? As Christians we understand our Lord is in charge of our time but we like to take stock of what is in front of us.
Some may think this is just a question for a doctor and a terminal patient. The fact is this – we are all terminal. We are all day-to-day. A fellow by the name of Curtis Jones wrote, “Life is our capital and we spend it every. The question is, what are we getting in return?”
Let’s sit down with our Creator. Let’s have a heart to heart talk with our Great Physician. Pull up a chair, relax and go ahead…ask the question . . .
“HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE?”
The Lord God is quite clear in our text when addressing his chosen people and He is still quite clear today as He speaks to us through His Word this morning. “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” God’s ways have remained the same since He first created Adam. If Adam asked this question, “How much longer do I have?” the Lord could have answered, “Forever.” Once Adam and Eve sinned that question had a limit and ever since the life spans of human beings on earth have been limited.
Lord, we still aren’t getting to my question, “How much longer do I have?” Well, let’s look at the two possibilities, “By loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live.”
We are not headed toward an earthly promised land like the Israelites would find themselves. But this Old Testament “promised land” foreshadowed the Heavenly Promised Land won for us through faith in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. We live by walking in the Lord’s ways. We live because the promise is sure. We live because Jesus says, “…whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He has not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24) Wow, that’s great news, thanks Doc!
Not so fast my mortal friend. There is a warning as you leave the office and continue your earthly ways. “If your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.” Did I hear you right? What does this mean?
Remember the last time you were in here and I warned you about your heartburn and cholesterol? I told you to stay away from the half-truths and the lies and the filth that you will encounter on a daily basis. I told you to protect your heart and mind by steering clear of those places and devices that ignore and mock all things Godly. The devil never rests. He wants you to think you can do whatever you want. He wants you to think you will live forever and the time is not short. He wants you distracted from the precious Word. He wants you to question your parents and your Pastor and more importantly he wants you to question Me. Once he has you entangled and apart from the Church, you really don’t have much to live for. At that point you are on life support.
Come on doc, you are just scaring me. That is what the Law does. It helps you to see the error of your ways. I want you to turn away from all this bad behavior and follow the eternal plan I set forth before the foundation of the world.
How does this work, is it painful? It’s quite simple actually. “Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days.”
The Spirit of God, who breathed life-giving breath into Adam, breathes life-giving breath into us through His Word and Sacrament. His Word opens our nasal passages and lungs – breathe in life. His Sacrament feeds our body and soul and eases our anxiety and fears. Go ahead leap for joy, hop around the office on one foot, you are in great shape – great physical shape because the Lord your God lives in you.
Let’s get back to that question, one more time. “How Much Longer Do I Have?” Haven’t you been paying attention? You have forever because I the Lord your God have given you eternal life through my Son, Jesus Christ.
Now hop up from there and get going – you have a Christian life to live.
Amen.