God created man in his image and likeness and gave him intelligence and dominion over all things on earth.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. May he have dominion over the fish in the sea, over the birds in the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every living thing that moves on the ground.

And this domain that God gave to man also presupposes man's right to decide:

. If he wants God to participate in his life.
. Whether or not you will love God above all things.
. Whether or not to obey God.
. Whether or not you will serve God.

In other words, IT IS MAN WHO DECIDES WHETHER HE WANTS GOD OR NOT.

However, God's intention and desire is that every man should seek him, worship him, obey him, follow him and be saved.

We can see this desire of God in several biblical passages, but I would like to highlight the verses below:

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

God does not give up that man desires and seeks and loves him BY A PERSONAL DECISION and not by an obligation that could have been established by God.

God, in the book of Deuteronomy, PROPOSED FAITHFULNESS OR INFIDELITY, BLESSING OR CURSE, LIFE OR DEATH.

Deuteronomy 30:19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

This proposal is still valid for us, so WE MUST CHOOSE:

• I will resist or I will sin.
• I will love or I will despise God.
• I will obey or I will go against God.
• I will have peace or I will have oppression.
• I will be blessed or I will be cursed.
• I will live or I will die.
• I'm going to heaven or I'm going to hell.

Jesus once suggested that we choose to walk the narrow road and enter through the narrow door and He also warned us that wide is the road and wide is the door that leads to destruction.

Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

In other words, there are many ways that lead to death and hell, and there is ONLY ONE way that leads to life and salvation.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

WALK thisWAY that is JESUS, honor him with your obedience and faith, RESISTING all influences that want to take you to the wide road (sin).

Remember: it is NOT satan who can take you to hell, but YOU, through your sin and disobedience.

CHOOSE BLESSING AND LIFE!

The Lord bless you and keep you.

Pastor Val Martins