It Is Up To You
There is a two letter word that makes such a difference in the quality of life we will experience while here on the earth and that word is: “if”. “If” separates us from the rest of creation. “If” is the basis of friendship and it is the attribute of free will. Jesus came to set us free. Sin enslaves to the point that we do what we don’t want to do and become what we despise. There are no choices in sin, just tyranny.
Because of sin, man could not reach God. God had to reach out to man. “While we were yet sinners”, (Romans 5:8), God’s love was manifest in Jesus’ death on the cross. His sacrifice gave us back our free will. Now, all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. We now have a choice.
First comes God’s deliverance and then comes our choice to follow. God delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and then he gave them a choice. Before freedom, there is no choice. God fulfills His Word. Every promise is “Yes” and “Amen”. Joshua wrote: “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed, all came to pass,” (Joshua 21:45). Then he says, “…choose this day who you will serve…” (24:15). Freedom gives us choice and choice requires responsibility.
God not only gives us a choice, He tells us beforehand the outcome of each choice. If you hear and obey the Lord, you will be blessed, if you rebel and harden your hearts you will experience a curse. If you serve the Lord, He will drive out your enemies before you, if you serve other gods, your enemies will dominate over you. If you confess your sins, the Lord will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Choose the narrow path that leads to life and avoid the easy and wide road that leads to destruction. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And there are so many more.
We cannot blame the devil, because he has been defeated. We cannot excuse ourselves because of our circumstances nor blame others for the conditions our life. We have been set free, now it is up to us. God set Israel free from slavery, but they had to possess the land by driving out the enemies that were there. They had to choose to live blessed or cursed; to experience life or death. We too, have a choice. We have been saved, now it depends on us as to the quality of life we will live.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Romans 10:13; Joshua 21:45; Deut. 28:1-14; Mat. 7:13-14; James 4:7. I John 1:9