Life sets before us many choices and we must make choices every day. One of the problems we encounter is that we do not always make the right choice.
Here are some rather simple choices we make every day, and at times without even thinking about it. Here are some examples. We can choose to eat or not to eat; to run or walk; to sleep or remain awake; to sit or stand; to talk or remain silent.
It’s important to keep in mind choices do have consequences. History shows that people have lived to regret making the wrong choice or choices.
When God created the first human, He gave him a will of his own, whereby man had the inborn ability to choose either right or wrong; good or evil. God subsequently placed Adam, the man He created, in the garden of Eden. The Bible says, “And the LORD god commanded the man, saying “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).
Here’s the personal choice Adam had to make. He could choose either to obey or not to obey what God had told him. Obviously, we now know that Adam did make the wrong choice in not obeying God, as recorded in the Bible.
God also told Adam “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die,” Adam did not die immediately after he disobeyed God’s command, but lived to be 930 years when he died. (See Genesis 5:5).
In telling Adam, “You shall surely die,” God meant “Instant spiritual death and progressive physical death” (William MacDonald). Instant spiritual death is separation from God and heaven; while physical death occurs when the breath leaves the body. And without exception, all humans face both deaths.
All humans are born sinners.The apostle Paul writes, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). King David said, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).
Every human has a destiny and God sets before us the only two ways to arrive at our destiny. It is either by the way of life or by the way of death, The way of life is heaven and the way of death is hell; eternal separation from God and heaven.
The Bible clearly states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). The Bible also says, “Every way of man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2).
Humanly speaking, people think their own way is the right way to God’s heaven. And this could be because some pastors or lay preachers actually tell their listeners there is more than one to heaven. Jesus Christ speaks of Himself as “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus used the definite article (the) for emphasis because there is no other right way to God or to heaven.
People who believe there is more than one way to get to heaven are eternally wrong, and must simply repent of their sins, seek God’s forgiveness and be on their way to heaven right away.
It has always been God’s intent that man should enjoy a loving spiritual relationship with Himself. Hence, he provided His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His blood and died on the Cross to bring about forgiveness of sins.
The Bible also says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Choosing a way that seems right to a man, as quoted earlier, is definitely the wrong choice to make because it is not the way to enter into a spiritual relationship with God, and be assured of heaven as your final destination.
God’s way is of the utmost importance and the very best decision you can make in this life if you choose it.
In setting forth the crucial choice before the children of Israel, Moses, the man of God, said to them, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life that you and your offspring my live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
This biblical text still rings absolutely true today as it did in Moses’ day. Choose life — eternal life — today. There’s no time like the present time. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Here’s what you do to make the right choice. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9,10),
The word “saved” in both places of the text means “salvation” that is when you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are saved from the guilt and penalty of sin. And you are being saved from the habit and dominion of sin in your life. Also, you will be saved at the Lord’s return from God’s curse upon a sinful and wicked world.
The right choice is absolutely yours to make. Choose Jesus Christ and live. For Christ’s sake. Amen.
o.