Romans 14:8 (NKJV) — 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
My first job was at age 15. I worked for the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. I agreed to be there at the store at a given time and bag groceries and mop the floor at the end of the day. They agreed to give me a paycheck at the end of the week. There was a contract between us. For a certain amount of time each week, I belonged to the Piggly Wiggly.
There was an earlier time in my life when I made a contract with God. I accepted His love, sacrifice, watch care, His salvation into my life. The Piggly Wiggly contract had a time stamp placed upon it. There came a time I no longer was employed by them. My contract with God does not have a time stamp placed upon it. I am God’s and He is mine for eternity.
When I worked for the Piggly Wiggly grocery store they owned me. I was theirs as long as I was getting paid. When I accepted Christ into my life, I gave ownership of my life to Him. As Paul wrote, whether I live or die, I am the Lord’s. He has exclusive rights over me.
There is a commitment we make to Christ. We commit our lives to Him. Paul writes, whether in this life or death, we are the Lords. This is not a bad thing! The contract we make with Christ is eternal. Working for the Piggly Wiggly I looked forward to Saturdays. At the end of the day we received an envelope with money in it. In the Christian’s life, there is no end of the day or week. As Paul writes, “In this life or in death we are the Lord’s.”
What we must know and remember is God is God. He rules; He reigns, He is God. No matter what, God is God! So we have a choice. We can sell our soul to the devil, or we can give our life to God. The first choice is eternal separation from God ruled by, not self, but by Satan. Choosing God is entering into His rest. Hebrews 4:11, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
God loves us with an everlasting love. He gives us peace and joy in this life. He wraps us in His love. God has made His choice. Now we must make our choice. Choose God and life or choose Satan and death.