A. WHAT IS A CHOICE?
1. The freedom of choice, i.e., do I choose steak or hot dog from the menu?
2. The priority of choice. You choose because inwardly you want it.
3. The thing chosen, i.e., I chose the early class.
4. The variety from which your decision is made, i.e., many kinds of chocolate.
5. Synonym: select, pick, elect, prefer, decide, will.
B. WHEN YOUR CHOICE IS ALREADY MADE
1. You can’t choose to “worship” idols. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Don’t choose to put anything before God. Because of enjoyment, fear, need, fame, social pressure.
2. You cannot choose to use God’s name in vain. “For the Lord will not hold him guiltless” (Exodus 20:7). Because of habit, anger, excitement, desire, social pressure.
3. You can’t choose to not worship corporately on the Lord’s Day. “Keep the Sabbath day to . . . the Lord” (Deuteronomy 5:12). “Don’t neglect gathering to worship” (Hebrews 10:25, ELT).
4. You can’t choose to kill, lie, steal, covet, or commit adultery (Exodus 20:13-17). God has prohibited these things, so don’t desire, think about, contemplate, or decide to do any of those things.
5. You must be involved with the Great Commission. “Preach the gospel to every person” (Mark 16:15). Can’t choose to ignore God’s initiative.
6. You must support God’s work. “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse” (Malachi 3:10). Can’t choose to not give.
C. WHEN YOU MAKE THE “NO” CHOICE
1. When you know and choose against God, i.e., “Don’t refuse Him who speaks” (Hebrews 12:25).
a. You harden your heart; His voice gets fainter.
b. It’s possible to drown out His voice altogether.
2. When you don’t realize and choose against God. “We must give the more earnest heed . . . lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).
a. A positive “yes” makes next voice more available.
b. A positive “yes” makes next decision easier.
D. CHOICES YOU DIDN’T MAKE
1. Your parents that determine your finances.
2. Your culture that forms your natural values and attitudes.
3. Your sex that guided physical decisions.
4. Your brothers, sisters, and relatives, i.e., who influences you.
5. God chose you before you chose Him. “Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).
6. Christ died for our sins before we asked. “The lamb slain before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20, ELT). “Takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
E. 14 LIFE-CHANGING DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE
1. Salvation. God chose you. “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). You choose God. “Choose you this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).
2. Whether you will be holy and separate. “I plead with you to give your bodies to God . . . as a living and holy sacrifice” (Romans 12:1, NLT).
3. Marriage. Marriage is a choice, i.e., partner, lifestyle, type of life, etc.
4. Occupation. You choose your job, but it also chooses you depending on what you can do.
5. Education. You choose how smart you want to be. “If you will seek wisdom ... then you will understand the right ways” (Proverbs 2:1, 9, ELT).
6. Faithfulness to God. You choose how diligent you will follow Christ, and how diligently you will work in life. “Those who seek me diligently will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).
7. Whether you will keep your mind and body clean. “We fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, Phillips).
8. What kind of friends you will make?
a. You choose friends who are like you, but
b. You will be influenced to become like your friends, so
c. Your choice of friends determines your life. “As iron sharpens iron,
so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
9. Whether you will be a happy or angry person. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom” (Proverbs 3:13).
10. Whether you will be an obedient person, or if you will walk on the edge. Call it curiosity, inquisitive, or rebellion and strong headed.
11. What kind of appearance you will make? Neat, appropriate, grungy, dirty, immaculate.
12. How you react to failure and success. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control what happens in you.
13. How you will serve the Lord. God calls and leads, but you must follow and act.
14. Where you will live. Choices made by occupation, income, self perception, mate, God’s leading etc.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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