Here Da Choices…

When my Dylan was three years old, he was already analyzing situations.  If he was trying to get his older brother or sister to play with him, he would say, “Here da choices,” holding open his little hands to them, “play trains, legos, or puzzles.”  Notice--he assumed the sale.  It wasn’t whether or not they would play with him, but what they would play.  But he gave them ‘da choices’.

As human beings, we are born with free will.  God opens his hands, says to us,

“Here Da Choices—life with me or life without me.  You are free to choose either one, and I will respect that choice.  If you think you would rather do life without me, not turning away from evil ways, then just know that judgment will follow.  You will be judged according to your deeds, according to your sin.  On the other hand, you can be set free from sin and the coming judgment by choosing life—life more abundant—through Jesus, my Son.”   (I scratch my head and say, ‘Wouldn’t anyone choose the abundant life?’)

Paul writes:

“But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done.  He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.  But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.  There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.  For God does not show favoritism.

When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.  For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.  Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 

         They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts,

         for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them

         or tell them they are doing right. 

And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.  Romans 2.5-16

Notice the underlined verse—God gives each man a conscience, a sense of right and wrong.  But then, he again leaves us free to respond correctly to that inner voice or to ignore it, or over-ride it.  When we listen to the dictates of our conscience, we stay on the right path; on the other hand, when we ignore it, we choose to violate our conscience, and we make ‘the voice’ a little quieter each time.  Sin becomes easier.  I have seen folks get to the point where they seem to have no conscience left; they can do abhorrent things and not feel badly or remorseful.  It blows my mind really, but I believe their conscience is lost to them because God ‘gave them over’ to that which they would really prefer to do.  (‘Gave them over’ as Paul talked about in Romans chapter one)

As my bodyguard and friend, the Duke of Earl, regularly reminds me, “Keep it simple, Christine.”  So, I shall.

Here da choices—God’s way ->eternal life and forgiveness of sins in Jesus

Or

Going your own way – judgment – separation from God forever. 

God shows no favoritism; we are all given those same choices.

“Choose you this day whom you will serve,” Joshua said.  (Joshua 24.15)

Because as (Bob) Dylan said, you GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY.

In case the reference makes you wanna’ listen to it, here it is:

David Allan Coe’s short version of Serve Somebody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdnlGCEsyR8&feature=related

Choose well, my beloved . . .

       And help others see the simplicity in it.

Christine