We all make choices. Today I pondered how our choices impact our lives in big ways and small.
Most choices are daily, in-the-moment choices, like what to wear, what to eat, who to call, or where to buy groceries. We make them almost without thinking. Others are more life-impacting choices, like where to work, where to live, who to marry. These choices take more time and thought and prayer.
Sometimes our choices work out the way we want them to, and sometimes they don’t. Either way, we learn something (hopefully) that we can use in the future. And all the choices we make are cumulative – they’ve led us to where we are now, in this moment.
The choice I’m most thankful for is the once-in-a-lifetime choice to make Jesus my Lord and Savior. I thank God every day for His love and salvation. And I thank Him for what I learned: I am loved unconditionally, accepted, and precious to Him; I can have peace that passes all understanding, God’s peace, in my heart; I can have His help with every choice I make; I can have true joy that is not dependent on circumstances.
Most importantly, I thank God that I can be sure I’ll see those I love in heaven who also chose Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Like my Dad, who I miss all the time. It’s the most important choice I’ve ever made, by far!
The Bible says God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins. My sins. Your sins. Everyone’s sins.
“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.”
John 3:16, AMPC
God has done His part. Now we get to choose to accept (believe in) or reject eternal life with God in heaven. Because, you see, our life doesn’t end when our bodies die. We live on into eternity. Where we live after our earthly death depends on this one choice: choose Jesus and live forever with God in heaven (eternal life), or reject Jesus and live apart from God forever in hell (perish, come to destruction, be lost).
It’s the most important choice you’ll ever make. Would you like to choose Jesus today? If so, I invite you to pray this prayer with me:
“God, I know I’m a sinner. I know I can’t earn my way into heaven or be good enough to reach it on my own. Please forgive my sins and make me new. I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe He died on the cross for my sins. I invite Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, and receive your gift of salvation through Jesus alone.”
If you’re not yet ready to choose, please ask God to reveal the truth to you and help you get ready. Read the Bible, ask God questions, talk to those you know who have made this choice. Easter weekend is in a few days – go to church on Friday and Sunday and listen, really listen, to the message with all your heart. God is faithful:
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV)
Don’t delay. You never know when your time on this earth will end.
And then it will be too late to choose.
