Articles
It Is Your Choice
It Is Your Choice
Dick Brandt
Just a few days ago many of us received presents from a few people and, like me, you might even have made a few suggestions as to the type of gifts you would like to receive. Why not, if someone asks you what you would like, why not tell them?
It is after all your choice, so why wouldn't you tell the one asking, the gift you would like. Let me say, too, sometimes I ask others what they would like, and let me be honest I can't believe they want that particular gift, but they do.
I remember years ago when I was the campaign coordinator for the school, and at the time, we were conducting 12 to 15 campaigns a year. As a result, we always had several non-students going with us.
On one campaign we stopped at a Baskins and Robbins ice cream shop and with 31 flavors, and everybody had their pick. Well, one of the younger teenaged girls ordered a double scoop of vanilla, and I said, "Hey, I thought you would get one of the special flavors." Her brother was standing next to me, simply said, "Brother Brant, did you get what you wanted?"
Over the years, even though it has been now 35 or more years, I have thought about those words many times. "Did you get what you wanted."
Now, isn't that true in many areas of our lives? We get to pick for ourselves everything in this life and the next life too. Oh, I know we can convince ourselves that there are situations and influences beyond our control and we can find ourselves living our life the way someone else would have us to live.
At the same time, it could be that we don't want to make an effort, or it could be that others might think we are foolish, or that we wish to be like others. Still, we must choose.
In our relationship with God that leads to eternal life, it is the same; we must choose. We are just a few days into 2019, and many, many people have made promises to themselves and maybe to others about what they plan to do differently in this new year.
It might be losing weight, or save more money for retirement, take a few online courses to improve themselves or they might be work-related courses. They want things to be better for themselves and their families, and why not. But, of course, everything takes planning, and that is what many do at the start of the year.
In our relationship with God, His church and His people, to make changes planning is also needed. Have you thought:
*I want to be a better teacher.
*I want to be a better leader.
*I want to be a better servant.
*I want to be a better steward.
Other areas might come to mind, but I am sure you are right on track with what I am saying, "It's Your Choice." Every decision we make is ours, and it is our choice if we carry them out.
Aren't you grateful that God made a choice before the foundation of the world to send His Son and stayed true to His plan Eph. 1:4. Aren't you glad, too, that Christ carried out all of God's will for His life and died for us? Heb. 5:7-9.
Note carefully though V-9, "He became the author of eternal life to all of those that obey Him." So just like every other area of life, you get to choose.
Will you choose eternal life?
