CHOICES
INTRODUCTION:
Nobody wants to make bad choices.
Everybody wants to make the right choices.
For we all know that bad choices lead to bad consequences and good choices lead to
good consequences but good choices are not easy to make.
Can we ever stop making choices? The answer is no. Choices are here to stay as long
as you and I are breathing we have a lot of choices to make.
Look at yourself. What you are wearing is the result of a choice you made before
coming to church. For some the choice was simple. For others, that choice could be a
little bit complicated.
Where you are sitting right now is your choice. Even the position and the manner
you are sitting is your choice.
As a matter of fact, you are about to make a choice – now at this moment, whether to
listen or not to listen. And if you choose to listen (and I am hoping this is your
choice) you will make a choice as to accept or reject this message.
HOW IMPORTANT IS OUR CHOICES:
Because we make choices everyday, we sometimes take them for granted and we
end up not valuing the importance of our choice.
But the Bible tells us that:
A)
OUR CHOICE IS IMPORTANT TO GOD!
“DEUTERONOMY 30: 15, 19 & 20”
*
God directly involves himself in our choice – He said
“See,
I have set before thee this day what to choose life or
death,
Good or evil”

God call all those in heaven and in earth as his witness
that he has given us a choice

God himself shows us the right choice! “Therefore”, he
said, “choose life”

God warns us about the consequences of bad choices:
“Ye shall surely perish....”
“Ye shall not prolong your days upon the land.”
HOW THEN SHALL WE MAKE OUR CHOICES? ARE THERE GUIDELINES IN MAKING
OUR CHOICES?
According to the length of time they affect us, choices could be:
Those that affect us temporarily
Those that affect us during our lifetime
Those that affect us eternally
Will you agree with me that the choices that will have an effect eternally are the
most important ones and therefore we should be paying most of our attention?
There are many factors that influence our choices. The most common considerations
that determine our choices are:
1.
Will it be good to me?
2.
Will it against established laws, rules and regulations?
3.
What are the facts?
4.
How about my previous experiences?
5.
What does my six sense tells me?
6.
Prayer, consultation and counseling.
But whatever factors or determinations there are, that will guide your decision
making, at the end, the question is “Did I make the right choice?”
Although God has given us the responsibility to choose, he did not leave us without
any basis or guidelines to choose with. He directs us what choice to make through
his Word. His Word is the STANDARD. For his word it the truth which guides us and
instructs us in our choices. Thus he said:
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore
choose life...”
What could be a more direct and specific instruction on what choice to make!
His Word also contains the consequences that should motivate us to make the right
choices for his Word tells us the results of good and bad choices.
“Thou and thy seed may live and multiply; thou may possess and dwell in the
land the lord promises to give you”
or
“Ye shall surely perish
Ye shall not prolong your days upon the land.”
So we see the importance of his Word in guiding and instructing us to make the right
choices. Without the knowledge of his Word, it will be hard for us make the right
choices all the time.
Secondly, if we are not so knowledgeable in his Word and if we are looking for
directions, there are people who are more experience in God’s Word, who could
guide us in our choices. And God have made these people available for our help... our
parents, relatives, pastor and even our friends. I said those who are more experience
in the God’s Word not just anybody.
And so God set before us, even now, the most important choice we have to make.
ALL, I said, all other choices will be dependent on how we will make this first choice.
Only two choices---Life or death and he ask us to choose one but direct us to choose
LIFE!
that
I was 21 years old when God set before me these choices. I could not believe
God has place in my hands my eternal destiny. It was not only an awesome
responsibility but a fearful one. The act of choosing became real, alive, and if I
may say it, in living colors as I picture myself standing in front of two
persons:
Our Lord Jesus Christ representing life
Satan representing death.
And as I took the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ, I could hear angels shouting
for
joy as my choice was recorded in heaven, in the Book of Life.
Yes, I have chosen life, life eternal!
There was another revelation that I saw when I have chosen life, that God through
Jesus Christ have set before me choices that I have never known before, choices that
opened doors to other choices that would make my life as fulfilled as he has
promised. We have yet to see and hear the things God has prepared for those who
have chosen him.
THE CHOICE OF LOVING AND SERVING GOD
Most of us have chosen life simply because we fear death. This is but natural. Can a
man who is in his right mind if given the choice between life and death choose
death? Or between good and evil, choose evil? Or between heaven and hell, choose
hell? Unfortunately there are those who believe it or not do!
And there is a majority who if presented these choices would defer, postpone and
even take for granted the importance of these choices. Those who are in this
situation are in danger of defaulting their choices to death! For
who can give eternal life other than our Lord Jesus Christ! There is
no other name in heaven or on earth that can save, except the name of Jesus. So, if
there is no choice being made, where do you think this choice would lead?
The right choice should always be life, good and heaven...God. And God opens
himself to us so that we can know him more through his Son Jesus Christ...His
character, his nature, his goodness, his mercy, his provision, his power, his
promises.
As we draw nigh to him, he draws nigh to us and this closeness make us feel the
reality of his love and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
From his love, flows worship and from worships flows service that truly represents
our love to our neighbors.
I will repeat right choices are not easy to make. But remember this, once we have
chosen life, once we have chosen to love God and once we have chosen to serve him,
other choices, exciting choices will be set before us by God himself.
And our assurance is this:
That God himself will guide us, he himself will instruct us to
make the right choices.