Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Destiny: On Being Responsible for One's Choices


     Every decision we make is a choice. We also make a choice to whether or not to follow through on that decision. It is when we put that decision into action that we learn whether or not we made the right choice, the right decision. Responsibility is what we take onto ourselves for our own actions, which have been based on our own reasonings and understandings. It is only when we fail to be held accountable for such that the world around us becomes chaotic and uncertain. But the decision in which your eternal destiny is based should not be taken lightly. With our limited imaginations, we cannot even begin to comprehend a place where time does not exist. Nor what we will be doing in this wonderful place, or who will be with us. No more tears. No more pain. No more sorrow, nor grief. No bullying. No lying, fibbing, fabrications. No grudges, no hate, no anger. No disrespect, no rudeness, no maligning, no insults. There is not one negative aspect in heaven. For The Holy One of Israel lives and reigns in heaven. And where God is, sin is not; pain is not; sorrow is not. The good news is there is a way to get there. But only one way. And that Way is Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God.
     The mind contemplates. The heart initiates. The body applicates. When we are rational and in our right mind, we reason within ourselves the possible outcome of our decisions. It is when we make irrational decisions and carry them out that we realize we have erred. This can result in pain to the body, such as tripping on the stairs, with the immediate outcome being falling down said stairs. (ie: if you know you will have difficulty, then don’t do it [that’s applying wisdom]).
     Driving while intoxicated may result in a vehicular accident, causing damage, injury or death to either yourself or the other folks who have become involved in the outcome of one’s bad decision making. In addition to all that, there is the possibility of jail time for irresponsible choices made on our behalf.
     Should I or shouldn’t I? Will I or will I not? By thinking our decisions through, we make rational, and hopefully, wise decisions while we go through life. But, remember, life is not all there is to being human. There is also death. And every one will die at some point. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
     Now, to day, is the time we should contemplate our destiny. The only way to live after death is to live through Jesus Christ. He alone can remove the sin which has stained our souls. His blood alone atones for sin. Sin nailed Him to the cross, but Love kept Him there. At every step along the way to His destiny, He could have said, “No, it’s too hard.” But He didn’t. He obeyed God, His Father, and followed through on His decision to die for all of us.
     Are we as committed in our decision, when we choose to obey God? Are we following Jesus all the way to the cross, to the grave, to resurrection in Him? Where do we begin? At the cross. Get down on our knees, repent of our sins, receive the baptism of The Holy Spirit of God and learn to listen to Him that He might sanctify us by The Word of God.
     And that’s just the beginning of sound decision making. The next step? Follow through.

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