Have Urgency

This week's Torah Portion, Nitzavim (You are Standing) נִצָּבִים, based on Deuteronomy 29:09-30:20, is the sister portion from last week's lesson. Many years the portion Ki Tavo and Nitzavim are given together (depending on how the secular calendar aligns with the Jewish one) in what is called a double portion. I even ended last week's blog with a verse from this portion because they are meant to be studied together. With that knowledge I wanted to focus on something else today: urgency. What's been on my mind this week is the brevity of life. How life may end at a blink of an eye. A beloved and righteous brother, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated this past Wednesday. Charlie had a wife and two children, a thriving ministry and was a huge influence in young people's lives. He dedicated his life to speak truth and open dialogue with the hope to improve people's future. At the young age of 31 he was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10th, 2025. He had plans, ambitions, and so much to live for. Yet, in an unforeseen instant his life ended.

Then yesterday I decided to watch a Netflix documentary about the 2011 Joplin, MO tornado called, The Twister: Caught in the Storm. It was the day of celebration in Joplin. It was the graduation day of the Class of 2011 Joplin High School where approximately 300 students and their families met to honor this accomplishment. A few hours after their ceremony the EF5 Tornado hit devastating everything in its path. The mile wide behemoth destroyed 8,000 homes, many buildings including the high school, and 161 souls perished in a few hours after participating in an event that is focused on starting a bright future for these young people. Reinforcing in my heart the sense of urgency needed when dealing with the topic of choosing life or death. Though these people may have died a physical death, hopefully they made a decision that will prevent them from receiving the second and spiritual death prophesized in Revelation and all over the Bible.

"The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more." Psalm 103:15-16

Last week's message I spoke about how God has laid before you two choices: life or death, blessings or curses, righteousness (His path) or autonomy (your path). This week I want to urge you to make the right choice. Not tomorrow. Not later. Make it today and again tomorrow. As this week's verses testify: it isn't hard. The choice is obvious and set before us, however, it is a choice we MUST make and do it consciously and daily. The verses say:

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." Deuteronomy 30:11-14

God has given us the cheat sheet. He has given us the answers to the test. All we need to do is put them to practice. His promise is that if we do these things we will have no desires outside His will. "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:01). Desires comes from needs. When we hunger, we desire food. When we are lonely, we desire love and companionship. When we live according to His will, we become whole and even in negative circumstances, we thrive because of his Shalom (Peace). The peace that surpasses all understanding and come from Christ (see Philippians 4:7).

Now, through Christ, we have even more reason to surrender our lives and will to Him. For with Him we surely have all things (see Romans 8:32). The verses from this portion is echoed in Romans with the plans of salvation:

"Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: 'The person who does these things will live by them.' But the righteousness that is by faith says: 'Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’' (that is, to bring Christ down) 'or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? 'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Romans 10:5-13

What is keeping you from making a decision? Is it your pride? Is it indecision? Is it the love of sin? Is it thinking you don't know enough? Whatever it may be, I urge you, lay that question to rest and decide, for we don't know when our last day will be. I love you all. Shalom Ve'Shavuah Tov! I'll end with the same verse as last week:

"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 (not tomorrow or later, but NOW), so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Deuteronomy 30:19-20.