THE CHOICE OF THE EXCELLENT LIFE

“THE CHOICE OF THE EXCELLENT LIFE”- Deuteronomy 30:19

“Human excellence means nothing unless it works with the consent of God”- Euripides

The OXFORD ENGLISH Mini-dictionary, Fifth Edition defined the word “excellent” to mean “to be extremely good and be outstanding in a particular feat.” An excellent student for instance succeeded tremendously to amass scores of 90 marks and above upon 100 marks cum A⁺ grade in an examination. The challenge before us today is to dare to excel in life.

If you look at the Holy Scriptures in Deuteronomy 30:19 we see Moses, the servant of God presenting the two available options unto the children of Israel to choose from. The Prophet presented them with life and death cum blessing and curses for them to choose from. He further reiterated a good counsel for Israel to choose life, so that consequently they all can live. As human beings not all of them chose life and so they were destroyed. Here is the poser. Why has God given man the brain with all its inherent potentials I ask you? One major reason why God gave man the brain is for him to think and in turn make choices in life; so that every time man need not consult with any other person before making right choices. It is the same with this subject of excellence. God has given you the brain so that you can think for yourself and choose to excel in life and not fail. Wisdom is however very expedient here so that you can be able choose a right and in turn pay the price excelling will cost.

This issue of choice reminds me of an incidence that occurred sometimes ago in a certain city between a very wise man and an imp. The later actually arranged a tactical examination for this wise man with a view to confirm how wise this man really is. This mischievous boy went to the wise man holding a live bird within the hollow of his palms. This boy with the intention of testing intelligent this wise man jokingly asked him, “Sir, can you tell me whether the bird kept in the hollow of my palm is alive or dead?” The wise man knew fully well that the boy reserve the right to the status of the bird. Should he say, “the bird is dead” the boy will open his palm and free the bird. And if he answered “the bird is alive” the boy can snoof life out of the bird kept in the hollow of his hand. The wise man then pondered and answered the imp, “the status of the bird either dead or alive is in your hand”. So also is excellence, it is all in your hand. It is in your hand. The reason is because “excellence is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice” according to Vern McClellan. That is a diligent choice for that matter. Your action to this subject of excellence or inaction to it is a choice that will eventually end you in excelling or in been a mediocre. We shall all excel in Jesus name, Amen.