Choices You Must Make

Articles

Wes Webb
04/26/20 - Salvation

In Joshua 24:15 the Bible records a choice Joshua asks the people to make. He says, “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.” He wanted them to decide if they would follow God Jehovah, or just some idol made with hands.

We all make choices each and every day of our life. Some of these choices are of very little significance. Like what color shoes to wear, or whether to get the chicken or fish for lunch. Then there are choices which will play a significant role in your life. Many of these choices are based on the knowledge and wisdom that you have. Like who to marry, where to attend college, or even what job you will work at.

When Joshua asked the children of Israel to choose who they would serve, he asked them a question that would affect the rest of their lives. See up until this point it was God who brought them out of Egypt, made the Red Sea part, and even made the walls of Jericho fall down. In this article I will ask three basic questions which I believe are the most important questions you will answer in this life. These questions like the questions Joshua asked the children of Israel will affect the way you live the rest of your life.

The first question I will you ask is, “Will you become a Christian?” In Acts 26:27-28 Paul once again takes an opportunity to teach the gospel to the lost when he stands before King Agrippa. Paul told Agrippa that he knew he believed, but Agrippa CHOSE not to believe. In Acts 8:29-40, here Philip has an opportunity to teach this eunuch the way unto salvation. Philip could not make the man be obedient to the gospel, all he could do is give the eunuch the knowledge he needed to make a decision. The eunuch then CHOSE to heed his words.

The second question I will ask is, “Will you grow spiritually? I was given this article recently which shows the progress of someone growing and could be applied to spiritual growth. It is entitled CHOICES. Portia Nelson reports that she has written her autobiography in just five short chapters. It goes like this:

CHAPTER ONE

I walk down the street. There's a hole in the sidewalk. It is a very deep hole. I fall in... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

CHAPTER TWO

I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in... again. I can't believe I'm in the same place, but it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

CHAPTER THREE

I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in... it's a habit, but my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

CHAPTER FOUR

I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

CHAPTER FIVE

I walk down another street. What a marvelous progression from... a helpless victim of life... to a victim of self... to taking responsibility... to self-discipline... to making better choices!

In Heb. 5:12-14 we see that as Christians we must grow spiritually to be pleasing to God. There is a time when we must all feed on the milk of the word, but it is God’s desire that we grow and move on to the meat of the word and begin to teach others. Also in 2 Pet. 3:14-18 we read that we must grow so we can understand the scriptures so that we will not be lead astray by false teachings. We need to have enough understanding that when someone tells us something contrary to the word of God we will know they are perverting and twisting the truth.

The final question I will ask is, “Will you be prepared at judgment?” In 2 Peter 3:10-13 we can read that we must be prepared always, because we do not know when the Lord is coming. Will you be like the rich fool who was only rich here on earth and not towards God, or like 5 of the 10 virgins who started off with good intentions, but ran out of oil part of the way. In 1 Cor. 15:58; 16:13-14 Paul writes encouraging words to the church at Corinth to be steadfast, strong in the Lord, and immovable. Will you CHOSE to be prepared or not!