It's Your Choice!

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX

ILL. Let me begin this morning by reading some words from Max Lucado:

"As I work on this manuscript I’m seated at a desk in a hotel room. I’m away from home, away from people who know me, away from family members who love me. Voices that encourage & affirm are distant. But voices that tantalize & entice are near.

"Although the room is quiet, if I listen, their voices are crystal clear. A placard on my night stand invites me to lounge in the lobby where I can make new friends in a relaxing atmosphere. An advertisement on top of the TV promises me that with the request of a late﷓night adult movie my fantasies will come true.

"In the phone book, several columns of escort services offer love away from home. An attractive gold-lettered volume in the drawer of the night-stand beckons - the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. On the TV, a talk-show host discusses the day’s topic, `How to Succeed at Sex in the Office.’

"Voices, some for pleasure, some for power, some promise acceptance, some promise tenderness, but all promise something."

ILL. A few years ago the creator of the TV series, "Civil Wars," was being interviewed. He was concerned because his new series had not achieved the ratings he had hoped. When asked why he thought that was the case, he said he felt it was because network television was not on a level playing field with cable TV.

When asked what he meant, he said, "On network TV we cannot be explicit in depicting sexual acts. We cannot be explicit when using language. We cannot be explicit in showing scenes of violence. And because of that, network television just cannot compete with cable TV."

But he was hopeful, & predicted that it wouldn’t be long until we’ll be seeing on network television even more nudity & sexual acts & violence than what we’re seeing now, & hearing language such as we’ve never heard before.

A. With that in mind, let me call your attention to Deuteronomy 11:26-28.

God is speaking to His people & He says, "See, I am setting before you today a blessing & a curse. The blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God & turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."

God is saying. "It’s your choice. You can choose either blessings in your life, or a curse. If you want blessings, then keep my commands. If you want a curse, then disobey my commands & follow other gods."

As you read O.T. history, you’ll find time & time again the people enjoyed the blessings of God. God gave them good harvests; their families were healthy & strong & God blessed them with children; God gave them wealth; they had peace & harmony in their society, & defeated their enemies.

Whenever God’s curse fell upon them, the harvest was not bountiful; plagues swept through the land & 10’s of thousands of people died as a result; when enemies attacked them, they were defeated & carried off into bondage.

B. So we ask ourselves, "Why would anyone choose the curse? Why doesn’t everyone pursue the blessing?" The answer, I think, is found in the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, vs’s 13 & 14.

"Enter through the