Articles
The One Time Decision
The One Time Decision
Dick Brant
Everyone makes decisions as they go through life day by day. Some decisions, of course, are more important than others. I think we all would agree that buying a house is more important than buying a hamburger, and deciding where we will work is more important than whether we will wear black shoes or brown shoes to work.
We must make decisions all the time, what clothes to wear, where to live, what to cook for dinner, and so on. Some decisions are seemingly so automatic, it doesn't seem we are actually making a decision.
As Christians, we must make decisions, too, and sometimes, yes, we need a little help from an older brother. Let me give you an example from my life.
Deanna and I had not been Christians very long when a member of the church came to visit us one Sunday afternoon. Well, after a few niceties and over coffee, the man said, "I would like to talk with you about being faithful in your attendance".
I said, "We are there every Sunday and for class too". He said, "That's right every Sunday morning and sometimes for the evening service". Then he went on to say, "You have, in the past, made a decision to attend every morning service and the other times the church meets are a case-by-case decision depending on what else is going on at the time".
Well, he was right, that was what was happing. Next, he went on to say, "Here is the best thing to do. Decide one time to be at services every time regardless. If not, you must make 156 decisions a year about attendance (52 Sundays times 2 services each and 52 Wednesdays) not counting Gospel Meetings, seminars, singings, etc. Again, he said just make one decision, I will be there".
I shared the above account with the congregation in Bitburg Germany during a workshop/meeting in 1986. By then it had been twenty years since the man had visited my home and encouraged us to make a one-time decision about our attendance.
Now as I was telling the story, a man spoke up and said, "George Creel. His name was George Creel and you were in Meriden Mississippi. He put my family on the right track with the same approach".
Now, it's been more than fifty years, since George shared this true and simple approach, with me, let me suggest the same to all, make a decision, one time, for all time.
The Biblical text, Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as we see the day drawing near".
Yes, a seemingly small decision, but with eternal consequences.
