A Matter of Choice

There is undoubtedly a lot of evil in the world. News reports from places all over the world tell stories of violence and mayhem of all kind. In the information age we are living in, the up-to-the-minute onslaught of news can desensitize us to the loss of lives and destruction. If we are not careful we give in to feelings of helplessness and discouragement. For some of us, it is too much. We no longer listen to the news; we don't want to know.

A lot of what we are witnessing is the result of human choices. Guns, landmines, bombs, knives, and other similar things, are deadly when humans decide to use them for such purposes. Indeed, it seems we are discovering new and more deadly ways to destroy each other. Regardless of the cause we indentify with or the belief systems we embrace, individuals - when confronted with a particular situation - bear the responsibility of choosing how we will act. For sure there are any number of factors that will influence those choices, but we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make.

I thought of choices and personal responsibility as I read God's charge to the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 11:26-28; "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known." In verse 19 of Chapter 28 we read, "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." In both instances the choices are clear; we as individuals get to choose.

It is worth noting that regardless of where we are in life, we are given the same options. Our actions reflect the choices we make and so do the subsequent results. While we are not able to "solve" the evil in the world, the choices we make send life or death in our spheres of influence. Every God honoring choice breathes life and blessings; every God dishonoring choice breathes death and curses.

God didn't leave His people guessing as to what they should do. He told them, "Choose life, that thou and they seed may live." As you look at your actions, what choices do they reflect? Have you considered the consequences of those actions?