It's Your Choice

Introduction:

Life is full of choices. From the minute we wake up in the morning until the moment we pause for the day and tuck ourselves to bed, we come across series of choices that would eventually determine our day’s performance. If two choices are comparatively similar, it would not matter much if we choose either one or the other. But if the contrast of two choices is miles apart, it would pose a huge challenge to choose which one, especially when one choice seems far more lucrative than the other. But challengingly enough, more often than not, the more lucrative choice would cost a lot in life – sometimes that choice poses to oblige us to bargain our integrity and reputation.

Success and Failure in life is a matter of choice!

Moses is one of the names of people labeled as “faith-greats” mentioned in the book of Hebrews, 11th chapter. His greatness was not an easy deal. It was neither attained by sheer luck nor was it obtained by sustained legacy. It was his faith, which was made sleek by the choices that he made in life. Only after he made those “major, major” choices that he had “major, major” experiences with the Almighty – the burning bush in the wilderness, the gushing mineral water out of a rock in the desert, and the tablets of God’s Law that he was privileged to hug. The tablets of stones were chiseled out from a rock mountain by God’s lightning and the writing of God’s Law was inscribed by the fingers of God. Awesome experiences indeed!

The choices that Moses made in life, which catapulted his name to become one of the “faith-greats”, are common to all Christian believers of today.

Are you ready to face the choices, rather challenges, of your life that would determine your spiritual rank before your creator?

I would like to draw our attention to the most common challenges that we face in life on a daily basis.

1. Godly Stance Vs. Worldly Measure!

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

People race to climb the ascent of status quo and clamber the ladder of success with the electric motivation to reach the summit of self-advancement and self-gratification where a plethora of lurid applause lavishly overflows. But the only thing that matters most, in the final analysis, is how much of life transformation God has impacted in our lives. And that would be determined on the basis of the choices that we need to make…

Moses was challenged with choices, too. He was educated in the school of Pharaohs, and was trained in the affairs of royalty. He had the chance to become the next Pharaoh. But the loud anguish of the Hebrews was compelling. He chose the latter. Like Moses, we face similar situations…..and are challenged with choices….

First choice,

a. Faith and Godly Purposes.

This choice might tow you into a dark alley of obscurity. To follow the tenets of faith does not guarantee our becoming famous. God’s purpose might even dump us into an open off-road of ignominy, swathed with shame in this world. But, in all of this, it would be a God-approved obscurity and a God-appointed ignominy.

Second choice,

b. Fame and Worldly Popularity.

This choice might require whatever it takes from you; integrity, dignity, and reputation; but you’ll have a chance to become a celebrity and be catapulted into a pedestal where human applause resounds. Look to the world around you and you’ll easily find people in this track.

Illustration:

Some celebs that made it in the silver screen did have choices in their life. Needless to name a few…. who started it right. They were church choir members at first, with golden voices that they use to glorify the Almighty. But when faced with a choice of fame and popularity, they chose the latter. Consequently, the end was tragedy.

A renowned lawyer, who was also a lay preacher whose church ministry was remarkably growing, was offered a position in the government. Here is what he said, “To be a Minister in the Kingdom of God is more honorable than to be a Prime Minister in the Kingdom of the World!”

2. Godly Suffering Vs. Worldly Pleasure!

Heb 11:25 He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

The world has a culture for comfort and convenience. That culture has even crept inside the churches. When church finance is growing, facilities are improving, attendance is increasing, we deem to conclude that the church is growing. Not always. The same is true in our personal lives.

Moses, a son of a Hebrew slave who had his royal privileges, had a choice. And he chose the hard way, yet he knew it was God’s way. In this entertainment-oriented world, we always come across contrasting choices…