CHOICES DETERMINE CONSEQUENCES
When my son was a little boy, I told him that in this life, we have a free will to make either good or bad choices. That choice will either yield a positive result or a negative result. He repeated my words to me, when as a teenager, he took ownership of a bad choice he had made. That is why, no matter the age, we must weigh consequences that can come when there is a failure to seek God’s will and direction in every aspect of life.
We must always remind ourselves what the consequence will be if we allow temptation to override what we know is right. Unfortunately, temptation comes with the belief that we can skirt around the truth that we know. That is why God’s Word encourages us to first seek Him for direction before making a choice that could become a life-altering and very regrettable mistake.
YouTube showcased a woman who had stolen from a Target merchandise that was valued at several thousand dollars. She was arrested and charged with a felony because the items far exceeded the guidelines of $500 for a felony. Her bad choice led to a felony conviction resulting in a prison sentence, fines, a permanent record, and life-altering consequences that will forever impact her personal liberties, reputation, and long-term socioeconomic stability.
The human mind has tremendous potential to make good choices. Unfortunately, it is easy to fall prey to short-term gratification by taking mental shortcuts that divert attention away from prayer and asking God for direction and His will. In that moment, objective logic is ignored to satisfy feelings that often misdirect and sabotage good decision making.
Feelings are part of the human emotional side of our character that can respond to fleshly tendencies that are driven by earthly desires. That is why God’s Word cautions to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We cannot go wrong if God is leading and guiding us, because He knows the outcome of both good and bad choices.
The following scripture is posted in my home and one that I quote as a reminder that God is sovereign and knows what is best for me. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (humbly seeking God for an answer), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NJKV).
Throughout the years, I made many mistakes when decisions were made without God. And too often those bad decisions were fear-based or because of my own selfish desire to have what I wanted. Fortunately, I have learned through my mistakes that when I am in a quandary, I now pray and seek God’s direction. For I know that His peace will cover me when I am in His will.
A question often asked is, “How do I know God’s will?” Knowing the will of God comes when our life is aligned with the Bible and we maintain a prayerful and obedient heart. Only then can we trust God to guide our decision making. While God's exact plans aren't always revealed, He did provide His Word as the perfect instruction book to help us navigate this world.
King David is the perfect example of a man whom God said, “He is "a man after My own heart, who will carry out all My will" (1 Samuel 13:14). David’s thoughts, interests, values, and personality closely aligned with God. But sadly, one day he was not about God’s business and allowed himself to fall prey to lust, which changed his course of direction.
David finally acknowledged his sin before God, and God forgave him. However, he suffered serious consequences (loss of a son) from giving in to fleshly desires with the beautiful and married Bathsheba and then orchestrating the murder of her husband to cover their sin of adultery and her pregnancy.
Consequences from bad choices are immediate and other times they evolve over time. Therefore, His Word encourages us to be careful to always seek God’s will.
How can we be in God’s will? First by knowing truth that is found in His Word. “Know this first that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men who spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
We also have the assurance that All Scripture is God-breathed (God’s Spirit) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Jesus said, For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:18).
We live in a society where many people follow their own personal “truth” that suits their needs. However, there is only one truth and one way found in God’s holy and inerrant Word. Jesus answered His disciples when they asked about truth and how they would know the way. He responded, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well.” (John 14:6-7 NIV).
God leads and directs those Christians who are submitted to His will. Often His leading takes a believer to a difficult place or a place out of their comfort zone. He knows every person’s capabilities, so when we trust Him, He takes us to a higher level, one that we may have thought impossible to achieve.
Often God’s leading creates opportunities that open doors that would otherwise have been missed had we chosen our way. Thus, the reason why we, as Christians, must diligently listen for His still, small voice quietly speaking direction into our spirit. For He uses means and methods that we would never expect, because His ways and thoughts are above our ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9 He will never lead us to do anything that contradicts His Word or His will.
PRAYER: FATHER, I surrender all to You. Forgive me for not trusting Your guidance and leadership. Help me to align my will and desires with Your will and Your Word and help me understand Your Word as I read it. Place within my spirit a desire to diligently seek after Your truth that is found in Your Word and to recognize the world’s many deceptions that are called truth but lead many astray. I ask these things in the blessed name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.