Our Choices will determine where we spend eternity

[Stephanie]

What do the Holy Scriptures tell us about Choices? Let's look at some verses to see what Daily Choices we should be making in our walk with the Lord.
 
1. Choose the Fear of the Lord
Proverbs 1:29 says - "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD."
 
We live in the midst of a people who, generally speaking, hate the knowledge of God's Word or the light of Divine Truth because their deeds are evil. They are morally and intellectually depraved. They will not submit to the law of God. On the contrary, they cast it behind their backs and totally reject any concept of the Fear of the Lord or eternal judgment for their actions. 
 
As Christians, we choose to love God's Truth and adhere to its godly principles. It is our guide in every decision. We choose to live in the Fear of the Lord all the day long - recognizing that we shall give an account some day before a Holy God and Just Judge Who sees all and knows all and has no respect of persons.   
 
2. Choose the Will of God
 
Proverbs 3:31 says - "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways."
 
The "oppressor" is the evildoer who lives among us. He is the man who worships success and power. He seeks to be rich and great and live in ease. As Christians, we "choose" none of his ways. In other words, we don't imitate him, follow his pattern, or do as he does. Our main goal in life is not to be rich and great, but to fulfill the will of God for our lives. We do not live for ease and pleasure, but for the Glory of God.
 
3. Choose Wisdom Rather than Gold
Proverbs 8:10 says - "Receive My instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold."
Proverbs 16:16 says - "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"
 
The right knowledge, instruction, and wisdom found in God's Holy Word is to be preferred before all the worldly wealth. As Christians, we understand the vanity and vexation of spirit that goes along with pursuing riches without the knowledge of God. Therefore, we choose to pursue a life of serious godliness. We choose a heavenly pursuit rather than an earthly. We choose the riches of God's grace and power found in His Word rather than the cheap thrills of this life - "silver" and "gold."  We make God's Wisdom our greatest treasure - for without it, we recognize that we would not be able to handle the wealth of this world properly.
 
4. Choose Obedience Rather than Rebellion   
John 3:36 says - "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
 
As Christians, we choose to walk in obedience to the Son of the Living God - the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe on Him, confide in Him, and consent to His Will. Resultantly, we enjoy life and life more abundantly. Our choice causes us to escape "the wrath of God" which comes upon all those who choose a life of disobedience and rebellion.
 
5. Choose to Hate Evil and Love Good
Amos 5:15 says - "Hate the evil, and love the good..."
 
As followers and imitators of Christ, we choose to "love the good." Therefore, we delight in good principles, good people, good conversation, good duties, good entertainment, etc. We hunger and thirst after righteousness. We strive to do good to all men.
 
And as much as we "love the good," we "hate the evil." We hate sin - "pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth.."(Proverbs 8:13). We "hate every false way"(Psalm 119:104). We hate everything that goes against the Truth of God's Word.
We hate everything that He hates and love everything that He loves.
 
This is our choice.
 
6. Choose Life and Blessing
Deuteronomy 30:19 says - "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed shall live."
 
Our choice to walk in obedience or disobedience to God has serious consequences. If we obey, we receive His blessings. On the other hand, if we choose to go our own way and walk contrary to Him, then He has no other choice than to walk contrary to us. That is when we come under the curse of the law. We reap the horrible curses of great sorrow, pain, destruction, death, and damnation.
 
7. Choose Jesus as Lord of All
Psalm 16:2 says - "O my soul, Thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord..."
Psalm 140:6 says - "I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God..."
 
We are no longer our own. We have been bought with the price of the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God. Therefore, we choose to acknowledge the Lord Jesus as the Rightful Ruler of our lives. We choose Him as - our Sovereign God...only refuge from danger and peril... only hope in a hopeless world... defense, shield, and protector from all harm and evil...and the strength of our salvation. Without Him, we fully understand that we can do nothing but fail. Acts 17:28 confirms this fact - "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being..."
 
8. Choose the Way of Truth
 
Psalm 119:30 says - "I have chosen the way of truth..."
 
In a world of great deception, falsities, and unreal game playing, we choose to - live lives that are honest and sincere...always tell the truth, no matter what the cost...be honest in all of our dealings and relationships with men...keep our word...and hide nothing and have nothing to hide.
 
9. Choose to Serve God as a Family
Joshua 24:15 says - "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
 
First of all, we have come to the conclusion that there is no other God before the Lord Jesus. Therefore, we - renounce every idol that is in the land and wholeheartedly serve Him...constantly watch over our hearts, lest any rival should dare to steal our affections from Him...have a made-up mind that we will serve the Lord. No matter what others do or no matter who likes it...what names we are termed...or what losses we suffer as a result of our stand for Christ - we will serve the Lord. It is our serious and deliberate choice!
 
But we are not satisfied to serve Him alone. We resolve to have our entire family serve this One Who has been so good to us. He brought us out of great bondage to Sin and Satan. Consequently, we desire to honor Him with household salvation as His reward.
 
10. Choose Suffering Rather than Sin
Hebrews 11: 24-26 says - "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..."
 
Moses had brilliant prospects ahead of him. He had the opportunity to enjoy a life of wealth, fame, ease, pleasure, gaiety, and sin. Nonetheless,  he rejected this opulent lifestyle, and chose to sacrifice all of these worldly pleasures to identify with his own people who were oppressed and downtrodden. He knew the serious consequences of his choice. He would face possible danger, want, and great trials if he gave up Pharaoh's court. Rather than sin with the heathen, he turned his back on the wealth of Egypt to fulfill the Call of God on his life to be Israel's Deliverer from slavery.
 
How about you, O Christian?
Have you -
...made the choice to suffer affliction and persecution on the job rather than compromise your holy standards? 
...chosen to go without that relationship or friendship rather than lose out with God?
...chosen to live beneath your means rather than cheat, steal, and lie to get ahead?
 
Whether we realize it or not - we are faced with serious choices every moment of the day. Which choices will you make today? May the greatest one be to serve the Lord Jesus in every detail of your life no matter the cost or the loss. Remember - the choices you make today will determine your destiny for tomorrow. They will ultimately determine where you will spend eternity.
And that's serious business!

[nChrist]

Amen Sister Stephanie!

Another chance to share how to be Saved, and there's only one way:

GOOD NEWS!

1:  Romans 3:10 NASB  as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

2:  Romans 3:23  NASB  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3:  Romans 5:12  NASB  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

4:  Romans 6:23  NASB  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5:  Romans 1:18  NASB  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

6:  Romans 3:20  NASB  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

7:  Romans 3:27  NASB  Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

8:  Romans 5:8-9  NASB  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

9:  Romans 2:4  NASB  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

10:  Romans 3:22  NASB  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

11:  Romans 3:28  NASB  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

12:  Romans 10:9  NASB  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

13:  Romans 4:21  NASB  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

14:  Romans 4:24 NASB  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

15:  Romans 5:1  NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

16:  Romans 10:10  NASB  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

17:  Romans 10:13  NASB  for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

[Eva]

Excellent reminder Stephanie. 

Reminded me of Proverbs 18:21- Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Love in Christ, Eva