[Biblemat] Article - "Decisions"

[GLClair at aol.com]

… DECISIONS …
Garreth L. Clair
 
The problem often faced by worldly people is “what do I do next?” Indeed, 
this is often a step that is a last resort for people who have followed the 
Devil all their life and suddenly find themselves in a predicament where they do 
not know where to go or what to say. The person who follows the worldly crowd 
will probably find themselves involved in, unlawful activities [i.e. drug use 
or selling of illegal drugs, prostitution, gambling, adultery, thefts, robbery, 
and etc.]. Many people at this point in life have been apprehended by the 
local, county, state, or federal authorities and will soon face a jury on 
criminal charges. This is for many worldly people the first time they have given any 
serious thought to the decisions that brought them to this juncture in life. 
Yet, may such people realize at this bad time in their life that everything has 
gotten as bad as it can get, “What can I do now? Where can I go? How did I 
get here?”  The truth of their satiation is simple, they made bad decisions and 
choose to follow through on those decisions. This is their root problem; they 
chose to do those things over a period of time that led them into deeper and 
deeper trouble with the lawful authorities due to their choice to break 
established laws.
 
            Whenever people make decisions based upon their free will to do 
so, they must ultimately face the consequence for their decisions. When a 
person has violated the laws of man and God they are surely headed in the direction 
of a day of accounting for their decisions. It is true, that every decision 
that one makes, either good or bad carries with it the ultimate day of 
retribution [i.e. facing the music or being accountable]. There has never been a time 
in man’s existence when he was at liberty to escape retribution for his deeds. 
The first man and woman [i.e. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:1-24] were not immune 
from accountability to God’s law and subsequent humankind has had the same 
problem. Apparently mankind has an inclination to make wrong decisions based upon 
their innate ability to choose, this does not mean that mankind is somehow 
born evil or totally corrupt at birth.
 
 Since mankind does have this free will facility to choose either good or bad 
with everything in life, why does mankind so often choose to turn away from 
compliance to established law? We are at a loss generally to answer the why of 
man’s ability to choose to violate man and God’s law more often than to 
accept it and abide in it. One of the problems that face everyone is the frailty of 
the human condition; man is possessed of a body and mind that requires 
constant care in both physical and mental preservation. If we fail to care for our 
body it will not serve us well very long and if we fail to be conscious of our 
mental choices we will descend into shame and degradation. 
 
            There is simply only realistic decision that man must make in 
life, that decision ought to be made early in life yet some do not make the 
decision until they have created a wreck of their life. That decision is to pursue 
the truths revealed in God’s Book [i.e. the Bible]. God has informed mankind 
via Jeremiah 10:23, “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: 
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” ASV – From this passage of 
Holy Scripture we recognize that man’s condition may be unfathomable to him 
yet if he will pursue the wisdom from God via the Bible, God’s plan for his 
life can be understood and followed.
 
            God’s plan for man is summed up in the New Testament, in several 
references:
Acts 2:37-40,
“37 Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said 
unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
38 And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in 
the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall 
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar 
off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.
40 And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, save 
yourselves from this crooked generation.” ASV
Hebrews 5:8-9,
“8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the 
author of eternal salvation;” ASV
Eph 3:17-21,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, 
being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong to apprehend with all the 
saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the 
love of Christ which passes  knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the 
fullness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all 
that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 unto him 
(be) the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever 
and ever. Amen.” ASV
Acts 2:47,
“47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to 
them day by day those that were saved.” ASV
 
CONCLUSION:
Remember this; whenever man makes the decision to proceed in life without God’
s direction he will surely live a life of unlawful activities. Often those 
that live a worldly life are self destructive, bringing upon themselves many 
sorrows. But the person who turns to God for instruction and chooses to follow God
’s instruction will surely be a credit to mankind and to God through 
righteous action and manner of life.
The true Christian may live a life that encourages other people to live 
righteous lives as well. The Bible teaches us that true Christians are “the light 
of the world” and “the salt of the earth.” [Matthew 5:13-16]Consequently one 
is wise who makes a decision to faithfully serve God throughout their whole 
life, cf. Romans 12:1-2.
February 7, 2007 --- glclair at aol.com or glclair at sbcglobal.net
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