Life is full of choices—some small, some that change the entire direction of our lives. From the seemingly simple decisions, like which college to attend or which sports team to root for, to the deeply difficult ones, such as letting go of a loved one, our lives are shaped by the paths we choose. Yet, at the heart of it all, God reminds us that the most important choice is set before us: life and good, or death and curse. Moses, at the end of his life, stands before the people and lays out this choice, urging them to choose life so that they and their descendants may live.

But the challenge is not just in making a choice—it’s in knowing what is truly good. Our world often confuses what is good with what is merely appealing or convenient. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, we are tempted to define good on our own terms, often with painful consequences. God, however, is clear: He alone defines what is good, and His commands are given not to restrict us, but to bless us. When we follow His ways, even when they run counter to the world’s wisdom, we find life and blessing.

This is especially true in the context of relationships and marriage. The world’s logic may seem sound—try things out before committing—but God’s wisdom reveals a deeper truth about commitment, trust, and the sanctity of marriage. When we enter into marriage with an “out” in our back pocket, we undermine the very foundation of the covenant God intends for us. Instead, God calls us to remove divorce as an option, to work through the hard times, and to trust that His way leads to deeper joy and lasting love.

Yet, the call to choose life is not a burden we bear alone. The good news is that God has already chosen us. Before we ever make a move toward Him, He claims us as His own. The story of the Ten Commandments, as understood in the Jewish tradition, begins not with a demand, but with a declaration: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” Grace comes first. Because we are His, we are then invited to live for Him, to choose life each day, not to earn His love, but as a response to it.

Choosing life means living differently, sometimes at great cost. It may strain relationships or set us apart from the world. But it is always rooted in God’s prior choice of us, and in the assurance that, even when we fail, His forgiveness and grace remain. Each day, we are invited to bring our failures, our shame, and our grief to the cross, and to receive new life in Christ. God’s choice is you—so go, redeemed, and choose life and good.