Something that God has given you that is the Something that God has given you that is the most powerful thing that you can possessmost powerful thing that you can possess More valuable than any educationMore valuable than any education More valuable than any amount of moneyMore valuable than any amount of money As long as you live on earth, no one can As long as you live on earth, no one can

take it away from youtake it away from you• Not even God will – no matter how Not even God will – no matter how

much you mismanage this possessionmuch you mismanage this possession You can give it away but even in giving it You can give it away but even in giving it

away you possess itaway you possess it Without this possession even salvation Without this possession even salvation

would be of no benefit to youwould be of no benefit to you

Something that God has given you that is the Something that God has given you that is the most powerful thing that you can possessmost powerful thing that you can possess More valuable than any educationMore valuable than any education More valuable than any amount of moneyMore valuable than any amount of money As long as you live on earth, no one can As long as you live on earth, no one can

take it away from youtake it away from you• Not even God will – no matter how Not even God will – no matter how

much you mismanage this possessionmuch you mismanage this possession You can give it away but even in giving it You can give it away but even in giving it

away you possess itaway you possess it Without this possession even salvation Without this possession even salvation

would be of no benefit to youwould be of no benefit to you

“Most Valuable Possession”“Most Valuable Possession”

I. Given at Creation I. Given at Creation

Genesis 1:26-27Genesis 1:26-27 Human beings made in the Human beings made in the imageimage of God of God Distinguished from all other Distinguished from all other animalsanimals

Genesis 2:15-17Genesis 2:15-17 Eat from any tree Eat from any tree exceptexcept…… ConditionalConditional, If – then , If – then If – the possibility to If – the possibility to choosechoose Then – the Then – the consequencesconsequences of choice of choice

Genesis 1:26-27Genesis 1:26-27 Human beings made in the Human beings made in the imageimage of God of God Distinguished from all other Distinguished from all other animalsanimals

Genesis 2:15-17Genesis 2:15-17 Eat from any tree Eat from any tree exceptexcept…… ConditionalConditional, If – then , If – then If – the possibility to If – the possibility to choosechoose Then – the Then – the consequencesconsequences of choice of choice

II. Ignoring the signs II. Ignoring the signs Ignoring the signs – deal with the Ignoring the signs – deal with the

consequencesconsequences Ignoring the signs – deal with the Ignoring the signs – deal with the

consequencesconsequences

Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:13-14 EntranceEntrance to the kingdom of God to the kingdom of God

• NarrowNarrow gate gate• DifficultDifficult way way• Leads to Leads to lifelife• FewFew choose that way choose that way

Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:13-14 EntranceEntrance to the kingdom of God to the kingdom of God

• NarrowNarrow gate gate• DifficultDifficult way way• Leads to Leads to lifelife• FewFew choose that way choose that way

Highway to Highway to hellhell (destruction) (destruction)

• WideWide gate gate

• BroadBroad way way

• Leads to Leads to destructiondestruction

• ManyMany choose that way choose that way

Highway to Highway to hellhell (destruction) (destruction)

• WideWide gate gate

• BroadBroad way way

• Leads to Leads to destructiondestruction

• ManyMany choose that way choose that way

Seeing Seeing beyondbeyond what is seen – need what is seen – need longlong range viewrange view TrustTrust someone who has already seen it someone who has already seen it

Seeing Seeing beyondbeyond what is seen – need what is seen – need longlong range viewrange view TrustTrust someone who has already seen it someone who has already seen it

III. Choose Today III. Choose Today

Deuteronomy 30:11-20 – Israel in Deuteronomy 30:11-20 – Israel in preparation to possess the promised landpreparation to possess the promised land This command I am giving you todayThis command I am giving you today

• Not too difficult to Not too difficult to understandunderstand• Not beyond your Not beyond your reachreach

Choice betweenChoice between• Life and Life and deathdeath• Prosperity and Prosperity and disasterdisaster• Blessings and Blessings and cursescurses

Deuteronomy 30:11-20 – Israel in Deuteronomy 30:11-20 – Israel in preparation to possess the promised landpreparation to possess the promised land This command I am giving you todayThis command I am giving you today

• Not too difficult to Not too difficult to understandunderstand• Not beyond your Not beyond your reachreach

Choice betweenChoice between• Life and Life and deathdeath• Prosperity and Prosperity and disasterdisaster• Blessings and Blessings and cursescurses

Choice betweenChoice between• Loving Loving GodGod and obeying him and obeying him• Turn away and serve other Turn away and serve other godsgods

Choose Choose todaytoday• Heaven and earth witnessHeaven and earth witness• Oh, that you would choose lifeOh, that you would choose life

Choice betweenChoice between• Loving Loving GodGod and obeying him and obeying him• Turn away and serve other Turn away and serve other godsgods

Choose Choose todaytoday• Heaven and earth witnessHeaven and earth witness• Oh, that you would choose lifeOh, that you would choose life

Joshua 24:14-15 – Israel having possessed Joshua 24:14-15 – Israel having possessed the promised landthe promised land FearFear the Lord and serve him whole the Lord and serve him whole

heartedlyheartedly Serve the Lord Serve the Lord alonealone If you refuse to serve the Lord than If you refuse to serve the Lord than

choosechoose today whom you will serve today whom you will serve As for me and my family, we will serve the As for me and my family, we will serve the

LordLord

Joshua 24:14-15 – Israel having possessed Joshua 24:14-15 – Israel having possessed the promised landthe promised land FearFear the Lord and serve him whole the Lord and serve him whole

heartedlyheartedly Serve the Lord Serve the Lord alonealone If you refuse to serve the Lord than If you refuse to serve the Lord than

choosechoose today whom you will serve today whom you will serve As for me and my family, we will serve the As for me and my family, we will serve the

LordLord

The good and the bad news The good and the bad news Judges Judges 2:6-152:6-15• Served the Served the LordLord• Then Then ignoredignored the signs the signs

The good and the bad news The good and the bad news Judges Judges 2:6-152:6-15• Served the Served the LordLord• Then Then ignoredignored the signs the signs

IV. No Choice? IV. No Choice?

I had no I had no choicechoice in the matter in the matter Others do things in which you have no Others do things in which you have no

controlcontrol Choose how you will Choose how you will respondrespond

I had no I had no choicechoice in the matter in the matter Others do things in which you have no Others do things in which you have no

controlcontrol Choose how you will Choose how you will respondrespond

1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when he 1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.  He left his case in the hands of suffered.  He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. God, who always judges fairly.

Others tyrannize or violate you or even put Others tyrannize or violate you or even put you to death – may have no choice in that you to death – may have no choice in that matter, but you have the choice of your matter, but you have the choice of your destination – no one can take that from youdestination – no one can take that from you

1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when he 1 Peter 2:23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.  He left his case in the hands of suffered.  He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. God, who always judges fairly.

Others tyrannize or violate you or even put Others tyrannize or violate you or even put you to death – may have no choice in that you to death – may have no choice in that matter, but you have the choice of your matter, but you have the choice of your destination – no one can take that from youdestination – no one can take that from you

"Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned "Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned touches me. We possess nothing, we can be touches me. We possess nothing, we can be robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, since everywhere on God's earth I am at home. since everywhere on God's earth I am at home. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. And death is welcome, for it will bring me more And death is welcome, for it will bring me more quickly to God. To a great extent I am already quickly to God. To a great extent I am already dead; for a long time I have been hastening to dead; for a long time I have been hastening to the grave." Astonished, the prefect remarked: the grave." Astonished, the prefect remarked: "Till today no one has ever spoken to me so "Till today no one has ever spoken to me so courageously." "Perhaps," rejoined Basil, "you courageously." "Perhaps," rejoined Basil, "you have never before met a bishop." Modestus have never before met a bishop." Modestus hastened back to Valens. "Emperor," he said, hastened back to Valens. "Emperor," he said, "we are bested by this leader of the Church. He "we are bested by this leader of the Church. He is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too clever for persuasion."clever for persuasion."

"Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned "Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned touches me. We possess nothing, we can be touches me. We possess nothing, we can be robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, since everywhere on God's earth I am at home. since everywhere on God's earth I am at home. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. And death is welcome, for it will bring me more And death is welcome, for it will bring me more quickly to God. To a great extent I am already quickly to God. To a great extent I am already dead; for a long time I have been hastening to dead; for a long time I have been hastening to the grave." Astonished, the prefect remarked: the grave." Astonished, the prefect remarked: "Till today no one has ever spoken to me so "Till today no one has ever spoken to me so courageously." "Perhaps," rejoined Basil, "you courageously." "Perhaps," rejoined Basil, "you have never before met a bishop." Modestus have never before met a bishop." Modestus hastened back to Valens. "Emperor," he said, hastened back to Valens. "Emperor," he said, "we are bested by this leader of the Church. He "we are bested by this leader of the Church. He is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too clever for persuasion."clever for persuasion."

V. Surrendered ChoiceV. Surrendered Choice

Psalms 25:12 - 14 12Who are those who fear Psalms 25:12 - 14 12Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. 13They will live in prosperity, should choose. 13They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. 14The and their children will inherit the land. 14The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. teaches them his covenant.

John 7:17 Anyone who wants to do the will of John 7:17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.  God or is merely my own. 

Psalms 25:12 - 14 12Who are those who fear Psalms 25:12 - 14 12Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. 13They will live in prosperity, should choose. 13They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. 14The and their children will inherit the land. 14The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. teaches them his covenant.

John 7:17 Anyone who wants to do the will of John 7:17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.  God or is merely my own. 

Surrendered Choice - Statement of Surrendered Choice - Statement of trusttrust I trust your judgmentI trust your judgment I trust you know more than I doI trust you know more than I do I trust your way is bestI trust your way is best In surrendering your choice, you still retain In surrendering your choice, you still retain

the power to choosethe power to chooseChoose Choose TODAYTODAY

Let heaven and earth be your witness Let heaven and earth be your witness todaytoday

Surrendered Choice - Statement of Surrendered Choice - Statement of trusttrust I trust your judgmentI trust your judgment I trust you know more than I doI trust you know more than I do I trust your way is bestI trust your way is best In surrendering your choice, you still retain In surrendering your choice, you still retain

the power to choosethe power to chooseChoose Choose TODAYTODAY

Let heaven and earth be your witness Let heaven and earth be your witness todaytoday