“Therefore, choose” (Deut. xxx. 19).
Men are choosing every day the spiritual or earthly. And as we choose we
are taking our place unconsciously with the friends of Christ, or the
world. It is not merely what ye say, it is what we prefer.
When Solomon made his great choice at Gibeon, God said to him, “Because
this was in thine heart to ask wisdom, therefore will I give it unto thee,
and all else besides that thou didst not choose.” It was not merely that
he said it because it was right to say, and would please God if he said
it. But it was the thing his heart preferred, and God saw it in his heart
and gave it to him with all besides that he had not chosen. What are we
choosing, beloved? It is our choice that settles our destiny. It is not
how we feel, but how we purpose. Have we chosen the good part? Have we
said, “Whatever else I am or have, let me be God’s child, let me have His
favor and blessing, let me please Him?” Or have we said, “I must have this
thing, and then I will see about religion.” Alas, God has seen what was in
thine heart, and perhaps He has already said, “They have their reward.”