“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

It is amazing, scanning through the scripture, to discover how many times it speaks of our Heavenly Father choosing. It would seem that His sovereign choosing would leave no room for man to choose, leaving him—man—a robot with no will of his own. As the above passage illustrates, that is not the case. Man is given both the right and the necessity of making life choices for himself; with the choices he makes determining the course and quality of both his life and that of his posterity.

Joshua proclaimed to Israel: “choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). It is quite obvious that Joshua, by his proclamation, was choosing a course of life in which he would be faithful to the Lord, and consequently, his faithfulness would ultimately determine the faithfulness of his family.

The failure to make proper choices constitutes double-mindedness (doubting) that, in essence, results in confusion. James said “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [doubting]. For he that wavers [doubts] is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed [confused],” (James 1:6). He goes on to say, “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:7-8).

Elijah described indecisiveness thusly: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions” (1 Kings 18:21)? Elijah was saying that the issues of life are quite clear with the results of one’s hesitation also being quite clear.

There are certain imperatives in the Christian life that require one to be certain in the choices he makes. When one fails to choose rightly, he automatically defaults to the demands of the world, the flesh, and the devil with their consequent compromise and ultimate destructiveness.

There are several areas that demand one choose rightly:

1. To receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
2. To be filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. To walk in faithfulness and obedience.
4. To believe and obey the word of God.
5. To walk in Godly morality and ethics.
6. To forgive instantly those who are offensive.
7. To immediately repent and confess when one has fallen into sin.
8. To approach every issue through continuous prayer.
9. To be faithful in Godly relationships.
10. To be instant in sharing Christ with those about us.
11. To be a Godly example in every situation.
12. To love God, others, and ourselves in a Godly fashion.

Obviously, one cannot adequately define every situation in advance that requires the making of right choices. Life is filled with many issues and events wherein one must choose rightly many of which do not give advance notice. It is well to remember that to fail to choose is in itself an act of choosing! It takes courage, enlightenment, and a proper assessment of Godly values to make right choices in the act of living. We are blessed, however, that our Father has given us many resources to enable us both to know what to choose and how to choose. Our Father is faithful.

Jeff