Life's Choices
A group of kindergarten children visited the local police station and viewed the pictures of the ten most wanted men. One child pointed to a picture and asked if it really was the photograph of the wanted person. The policeman guide replied that it was. The youngster inquired, "Well, why didn't you keep him when you took his picture?"
Children sure do ask some good questions sometimes. The right answer to a good question is usually the information we can use to make a proper decision.
As adults we have to make decisions everyday. God designed human life that way. How much thought do we put into the choices we make? Do we help our children make Godly decisions?
Young people in God's church today have many choices to make as well. It is at this time in their life that many young people are required to make life directing, or life changing decisions. The decisions they make at any given time could affect them the rest of their lives, for better or for worse. Sometimes they have to learn for themselves that, indeed, the stove is hot. We must help our children learn to make good choices in life.
Throughout the scriptures we see people making choices. In Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-6, we read that Adam and Eve made a wrong choice in the Garden of Eden. This single decision brought immeasurable grief upon the rest of mankind. Sin and death were passed onto their descendants.
But why would a loving God put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden? Did He not know that if they made a poor choice, that they could eat from it and have to die? Why would a loving God leave the serpent there to tempt them to eat from the forbidden tree? The reason is that it was by the "act of choosing," that they demonstrated in whom they believed. They chose to believe Satan rather than God.
God also commanded Israel to choose His ways in Deuteronomy 30:15-20, " .. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; in that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days."
Do we see how our everyday decisions have very lasting consequences?
Young people sometimes think, "I can do whatever I want and still have God as a backup plan, or I am young and have plenty of time." How does anyone know that? How can we take the chance that we will live to be older and then decide to follow God. Accidents happen. If we choose to follow our own ways, God is not obligated to protect us. We can't take our time here on earth for granted. God has your best interests in mind. His law is for our benefit. We, too, then must choose between God or Satan. Good or evil. We must learn to put God first. We can't put anything or anyone ahead of what God wants us to do. We must choose if we will serve the one true God or not. Young people, please read Proverbs 1:27-31, because anyone that puts off serving God, must live with the consequences of that choice.
In Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua was inspired to write, ".. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Which God will we serve? The Egyptians worshipped frogs. Frogs? Even young children can figure out that if you can accidentally step on someone's god and kill it, it probably isn't going to be able to protect anyone. Our heavenly Father is the Great God of the universe. He really can provide for us and protect us.
You might ask "If I make a wrong decision, can't God forgive me?" Sure He will, if you repent. Psalm 86:5 says, "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." But, just because you repent and God forgives you doesn't mean there won't be consequences. Every action we take has a result. If a person makes the decision to steal, God can forgive them, but they still might go to jail. If a young girl has a baby without being married, she can be forgiven, but she still has that baby to raise for the rest of her life. We can be forgiven, but we are not always free of consequences. We should always make decisions very carefully. The important decisions are the ones that will change your life. When we make right choices, we are able through the indwelling of His Spirit, to build holy, righteous character. It is how we become like God. If we will take enough time to consider both sides to a question, the correct choice is usually obvious.
Jesus was also a young person once. He also had to make decisions. He chose everyday to obey His Father. If Jesus had made the choice to sin, we could never be in the Kingdom of God. The results of his decisions still affect us. Because He made the right decisions, it is now possible for us to enter into eternal life someday.
God is not asking us to do the impossible. God never tells us to do something He doesn't do Himself. Jesus was tempted in all points as we were. He took things one decision at a time. The only way He was able to follow God was that he made every decision, every choice, every day according to what God wanted Him to do. Look at what the result is. He is with God right now. He has been given authority to come back and be the King of Kings. How could we ever choose to follow Satan? His choice to never obey God ever again will cause him to be put away forever. He will have no power, no kingdom, nothing. Which way sounds better? We all have choices. Which choice will you make?
- Written by Tim Hall and Wayne Holmes
