A Call to Discernment and the Choice for Life By: Major Frank Materu

Key Scripture: I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Introduction

In a world plagued by moral and spiritual decay, humanity finds itself at a critical crossroads. The divine message delivered in the provided text is a powerful and urgent call to discern between the paths of life and death. It serves as a stark warning to a generation that has lost its ability to distinguish between good and evil, freely partaking of what is "unclean" and suffering the devastating consequences. This lesson will meticulously unpack the themes of this divine discourse, from the widespread spiritual sickness and disease of the multitudes to the profound simplicity of the choice that faces every individual daily. We will explore the seductive nature of sin, the unwavering strength God provides to those who choose His path, and the tragic fate of those who, in their stubbornness, prefer misery and death to the abundant life offered by their Creator. This is not merely a theological reflection but a practical guide for those who desire to be kept safe in these perilous times, a lesson in choosing the living bread over the poison of this world.

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The Peril of Spiritual Sickness and Unclean Living

The text opens with a profound and somber observation: "I do not delight when those who claim they are Mine have gone after that which is unclean and eaten of the same." This is a spiritual indictment of a generation that has lost its ability to discern. The "unclean" is not just a metaphor for moral impurity but is described as a source of both "sickness and disease, both physically and spiritually." The masses are portrayed as suffering from their choices, having ingested the "wicked, and the bitter bread of the devil and his demons." Their lack of discernment leads them down a path of great suffering and "premature death." This is in stark contrast to God's original intention for humanity to "live long and bear much fruit upon the earth for My kingdom."

The enemies of God are actively "sowing seeds of sin into the multitudes," and sadly, the majority are not resisting. The text highlights a willingness to "yield to sin and the consequences of the same" rather than to "resist sin and walk in My righteous standards." This is the core of the problem: a deliberate preference for the easy, corrupt path over the challenging, righteous one. This spiritual sickness is not a random affliction but a direct result of ingesting spiritual "poison" with "no regard or respect for the gift of life they have been given." Just as physical poison inevitably leads to sickness and death, so too does spiritual poison lead to a demise, both in this life and the next.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light… having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:8-11)

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The Strength to Choose the Right Path

Despite the bleak reality of a fallen world, the divine message offers a powerful promise to those who desire to follow God. "If it is Me that you desire to follow, you will find that I give you the strength to do so day by day." This is a profound assurance that the righteous path is not one we walk in our own strength. Even when feelings of hopelessness and helplessness arise, we are to resist them, for God's intention is not for His people to be "crushed" but to be "ever uplifted and guided forth by My Holy Spirit."

The world presents a multitude of "enticing" things that beckon us to follow. The text identifies these as "the sources of wickedness and the very enticements of death and damnation." The divine instruction is to "turn the deaf ear" to these temptations and to "choose to listen to the voice of My Spirit." This requires a conscious and disciplined practice of not giving in to the "devilish and deadly suggestions of the wicked." We are called to be thankful for being kept on the "straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life." Life is presented as a series of choices, a win-or-lose situation with no middle ground. The message encourages us to be "a winner" by walking in the "blessedness of hope" that springs from a life centered on God.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

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The Blindness of Misery and the Refusal of Healing

The text draws a poignant connection between the spiritual choices of individuals and the collective sickness of society. Those "riddled by sickness and disease" are seen as "the by-products of sick societies and cultures." These societal influences "shape them into the wretchedness they exist in." This is a powerful statement on the environmental impact of sin, where the collective moral decline creates a toxic atmosphere that infects individuals.

God's intention, however, has never been for people to live in "wretchedness and misery." His desire is for humanity to be in "cooperation with Me, and live in the way that I provide and rejoice each day in Me." The tragic reality is that many, though utterly blinded by their miseries, "prefer their misery to the healing that is offered to them through Me." This is a direct consequence of a hard heart that has grown accustomed to its own self-inflicted pain. They are likened to those who "purposely eating of poison" with a total disregard for the gift of life. This blindness and refusal to be healed is a choice, not a curse, and it leads to their inevitable downfall.

But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. (Zechariah 7:11)

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The Living Bread vs. the Bread of Deceit

A central metaphor in the text is the contrast between the "unclean" or "poisonous" bread of the world and the "living bread" that God provides. Those who eat of the world's poison are "doing so with no regard or respect for the gift of life." Their choice leads to sickness and even death, and they are described as those who "will inevitably be made sick by the same."

In stark contrast, God does not feed His people with the "bread of deceit and delusion." He gives to His people the "very bread that is living." When we partake of this living bread, we are given "strength and encouragement." This is an active choice we must make daily: to partake of God's provision and be made strong in Him. The text encourages us to abide in God's presence, for it is there that we find the strength to "endure and be brought forth through conditions and situations that are very ugly." We are reminded not to center on these ugly conditions but to remember that God "is the hope of My people."

The text warns against being enticed by the "madness of the maniacs" and the "foolishness" of the world. It states that "fools are beaten with many stripes and still they return to wallow in the mire and to find pleasure in the forbidden." This stubbornness and preference for self-destruction is a profound tragedy, for the "reality is that hell is full of fools, and daily, more are cast into the chambers of hell."

I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)

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Summary

This lesson offers a stark and compelling dichotomy between a life lived for God and a life lived in rebellion against Him. It exposes the devastating consequences of spiritual sickness, which arises from partaking in the "unclean" and the "poisonous" offerings of a fallen world. The lesson reminds us that God's intention is for us to live long, fruitful lives, and that He provides the strength and guidance to walk the narrow path. We are shown that many, blinded by their misery and shaped by sick societies, tragically prefer their suffering to the healing offered by God. The central message is an urgent call to choose the "living bread" of God's presence over the "bread of deceit." It concludes with a sobering reflection on the fate of those who, in their stubbornness, choose death over life, and a strong warning against feeling "false compassion" for the consequences they bring upon themselves.

Conclusion

The choice is clear and it faces us every day. The path of the world, with its enticing but poisonous offerings, leads to sickness, misery, and eternal death. The path of God, though narrow, leads to abundant life, strength, and hope. We are not meant to be victims of a sick society but agents of God's kingdom. Our mission is to choose wisely, to turn a deaf ear to the temptations of the wicked, and to partake daily of the living bread that nourishes us.

The Call to Action

Examine your life today. What are you partaking of? Are you eating of the clean bread of God's word and presence, or are you partaking of the poisonous influences of the world? Make a conscious decision to turn away from anything that is spiritually unclean and to actively seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Renew your commitment to walk the straight and narrow way, and be thankful for the strength God provides to do so.

A Final Word of Encouragement

You are living in a time of great challenge, but also a time of great opportunity. Your choice for life, for righteousness, and for God's living bread is a powerful testament in a world that is choosing death. Do not be discouraged by the madness around you. Instead, be strengthened by the hope and abundance that God has promised to you. Stay vigilant, stay prayerful, and stay in His presence.

Sala ya Wokovu (Prayer of Salvation)

Lord Jesus, I see the poison and sin of this world, and I confess that I have partaken of it. I repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that You are the living bread, that You died for my sins, and that You were raised from the dead. I invite You into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Help me to turn away from the unclean things of this world and to daily feast on Your presence and Your truth. Give me the strength to resist temptation and to walk in the way of life. Thank You for saving me and for giving me the hope of eternal life with You. In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.