Year End Close Out Special Part 1 and 2.

By Ronald George Jr. SFBC 12-28-97

Where have we Been and Where are we going?

Scripture Text: Deut. 30:15-20.

Deut 30:15 (KJS) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, [and that] ye shall not prolong [your] days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

It’s time to examine our lives, our families, and our church to see where we have been and where are we going. Remember the past to see where we have been and call out on the Lord to see where He wants us to go from here.

Our past year of 1997 includes such events as the Heaven’s Gate cult event, the Tiger Woods story, the Gus Ferot mistake, and the Jon Benet Ramsey unsolved murder. What events highlight our lives. Why not just forget about the past go on? If we forget the past we are doomed to make the same mistakes over and we may continue to go in circles. We must remember where we have been to determine where we are and then decide where do we want to go.

Today’s scripture finds God’s servant Moses giving his final speech to the Israelites. Remembering the Exodus from Egypt and the trip through the wilderness, Moses is preparing the people to cross the River Jordan into the Promised land under the leadership of Joshua. He is making this challenge to them as he prepares to leave them to die.

Every day brings new choices. The choices we make today will determine where we will be tomorrow. What are the choices that we have to make?

We have had one choice to Make. Life and Good or Death and Evil

But is that all of our Options? Choices, choices we are the generation of choices. There is only one choice from two options.

Matt 6:24 (KJS) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. The choice is God or Mammon(worldly gods).

I. Have we loved the Lord? In our church, families, and lives. Have we talked to Him, noticed his handiwork, and paid Him attention?

II. Have we walked in His Ways? In our church, families,and lives. Have we followed his direction as he has revealed them to us in his word. Have we sought his direction from his word and from his Spirit?

III. Have we kept his commands, statutes, and Judgements? In our church, families, and lives.Have we loved our enemies and forgiven others as He has forgiven us? Have we followed the Law of Love that Jesus has given to us?

But v.17:

I. Has our heart turned away? Not loved the Lord our God.

II. Have we not heard or listened to His voice and been drawn away from Him?

Have other things drawn us away from what is important in life?

III. Have we worshipped other gods and served them?

When have we denied ourselves or things for God?

Let’s Review the Record. What Record? The record we have left behind.

Heaven and Earth record our lives for us to remember.

Every decision, every move, every hidden things has been seen?

How do we feel about the past year in our lives, our church, and our families? For our sake and the sake of our children we need to examine the choices we have made.

Choose life that both you and your children may live. God is pro life.

He wants you to live and your children, so make the right choice. Choose blessing or cursing, life or death, because God is our life.

Remember your past decisions. Indecision is a decision.