CHOICE

Choose you this day whom you will serve. – Joshua 24:15

Only two choices – God or self – heaven or hell, now and forever.          Charles Colson

     Many thousands of years ago, Joshua gathered the wandering tribes of Israel on the sands of the desert of Sinai. There, he drew a line in the dusty sand. Declaring, “Choose you this day whom you will serve!” Joshua drew a line of decision.

     Some two thousand years ago God drew a line in eternity. Upon the dusty sand of a hill called Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, a cross was planted in the ground. Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, was crucified. Blood flowed from his forehead pierced by thorns, from his hands and feet pierced by nails and blood flowed from his side pierced by a spear. With that blood God drew a line in eternity from his heart to the heart of each person who hears the gospel message. God drew a blood-red line of decision. “Choose you this day whom you will serve!”

     Most of us have made the initial life decision to follow Jesus. We made a onetime lifetime decision. We call that “conversion.” Yet, as  important as our initial salvation is, each day is a day of choices to be made, whether for Christ or for Satan. You see, salvation is not a one time decision. Salvation is a lifetime of decisions. Salvation is a lifestyle.

     Our commitment will be tested each day, many times a day. We must make the choice between “God or self – heaven or hell.” These choices are for “now and forever.” “Now” each choice may seem unimportant, of  little consequence. But, “forever” is just around the corner for each of us. In the unyielding and relentless light of eternity, each choice is important and determines our eternal destiny.

     Life is full of choices. All choices are ultimately decidng whom we will serve. Let each of us say, with determination and faith, “I will serve the Lord.”

     OMG, today I step across the line to serve only you. May I have the determination and faith to step across the line again tomorrow. Amen.

 

copyright 2010 by Richard Hugh Manlove

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