December 1, 2002 / Volume 6, Issue 48
Which Will You Choose?
Life is about choices. We make choices throughout each day, some important, some trivial. Let us consider some decisions which each individual must make, dealing with issues of life eternal...
TWO RULERS
SATAN:
- the god of this world (2 Cor 4:3-4)
- we all once served him (Eph 2:1-2)
- he wars against the soul (Eph 6:1-12)
- his purpose is to kill (1 Pet 5:8) |
JESUS CHRIST:
- all authority is His (Mt 28:18)
- He is head over the church (Eph 1:22-23)
- He is the eternal judge (2 Cor 5:10)
- died on the cross to save us (John 1:29) |
TWO FOUNDATIONS
SHIFTING SAND:
- where the foolish man built (Mt 7:26-27)
- did not do the Father’s will (Mt 7:21)
- does not obey the Lord (Lk 6:46) |
SOLID ROCK:
- where the wise man built (Mt 7:24-25)
- does the will of the Father (Mt 7:21)
- Jesus is the only foundation (1 Cor 3:11) |
TWO ROADS
BROAD WAY:
- many will go on it (Mt 7:13-14)
- it is the easy and enjoyable road
- passing pleasure of sin (Heb 11:25)
- leads to destruction (Mt 7:13-14) |
NARROW WAY:
- few will find it (Mt 7:13-14)
- a strict, strait and hard path to follow
- lay aside sin, follow Jesus (Heb 12:1-2)
- leads to life (Mt 7:13-14) |
TWO GUIDES
MAN'S OPINION:
- ‘a way that seems right’ (Pr 14:12)
- results in lip service to God (Mt 15:8-9)
- learn not to go beyond (1 Cor 4:6) |
FAITH IN GOD:
- ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Cor 5:7)
- pleasing to the Lord (Heb 11:6)
- grounded in God’s word (Ro 10:17) |
TWO AUTHORITIES
CREEDS OF MAN:
- departure from God’s way (2 Ti 4:3-4)
- unauthorized additions (Rev 22:18-19)
- not a mere summary of the Bible, else
there would be no difference between creeds |
THE BIBLE ONLY:
- to whom shall we go? (Jn 6:68)
- no one can change it (Gal 1:6-10)
- it is understandable (Eph 3:1-5)
- is profitable for man (2 Tim 3:16-17) |
TWO DOCTRINES
FAITH ALONE:
- Jesus said ‘believe’, right? (Jn 3:16)
- ‘not by faith only’ (Jms 2:14-26) |
OBEDIENT FAITH:
- Jesus saves the obedient (Heb 5:8-9)
- ‘obeyed from the heart’ (Ro 6:16-18) |
TWO DEATHS TO DIE
LOST IN SIN:
- unbelievers die in their sin (Jn 8:21-24)
- personal responsibility (Eze 3:18) |
SAVED 'IN CHRIST':
- a blessed death (Rev 14:13)
- carries assurance of life (1 The 4:13-18) |
TWO DESTINIES
TORMENT IN HELL:
- prepared for the devil (Mt 25:41)
- for the disobedient (2 The 1:6-8)
- eternal separation from God |
JOY IN HEAVEN:
- prepared by the Lord Himself (Jn 14:1-3)
- for God’s faithful (Mt 25:34-40)
- eternal fellowship with the Creator |
WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE???
Some thoughts on choices...
"We are like children walking a path in the rain. We can walk in or around the mud of life as we desire, but with our choices come the consequences. And we are rapidly becoming what we are choosing to be for all eternity."
(Elaine Cannon)
"I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday."
(Unknown)
"It is our choices that show what we are...far more than our abilities."
(from Harry Potter)
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
(Epictetus)
"My basic principle is that you don’t make decisions because they are easy; you don’t make them because they are cheap; you don’t make them because they’re popular; you make them because they’re right."
(Theodore Hesburgh)
"Stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re standing alone."
(Unknown)
"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."
(H. Norman Schwarzkopf)
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I... I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
(Robert Frost)
"It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny."
(Jean Nidetch)
"Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices."
(Alfred A. Montapert)
Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
We are told that everyone sins (Romans 3:10, 12, 23), but also that Christians do not sin (1 John 3:6, 9). Is there a contradiction?
