Making The Right Decision
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Brother Bob Pellien: We all want to make the best decision, right? God wants us to make the right decisions too. In fact, He wants you to make the best decisions so that He can reward you. That’s how awesome God is… But how do we make these decisions?
You’re listening to the podcast version of God’s Message magazine. Today’s topic is Making The Right Decision.
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Brother Bob Pellien: We all make decisions. We decide about mundane concerns such as the clothes we wear, the movies we watch, the food we eat, as well as decisions that have greater impact on our future such as what school to go to, what career to pursue, whether to start a family or stay single. It’s important to think things through before making any decision in life because the decisions we make now will influence how our lives will be tomorrow.
Apostle Paul declared this basic truth of life long time ago, and it remains just as true today:
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
[Galatians 6:7 New Revised Standard Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: So, the concept of reaping what one sows or having to face the consequences of an action or decision is thus rooted in the Holy Scriptures. But a deeper understanding of this basic truth will make us more careful in the way we live, and more meticulous in making decisions.
The decisions we make in life not only affect our future, but most importantly, it determines the way we will be treated by God.
I, the LORD, search the minds and test the hearts of men. I treat each one according to the way he lives, according to what he does.
[Jeremiah 17:10 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: One must be careful in the way he lives because God Himself will repay him according to his actions. God, through Christ, will judge our actions and the way we have lived when He returns on Judgement Day.
For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by Him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life.
[II Corinthians 5:10 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: Thus, a person will reap or receive what he deserves based on whether he did good or evil during his lifetime. Hence, it is of great importance that we be careful of the decisions we make. Man indeed has freedom of choice and he can decide whether to do good or do evil. But, what we should remember is that we must be ready to face the consequences of our actions and reap the harvest of the decisions we make in our life. The Bible teaches what the wicked will harvest:
I have seen people plow fields of evil and plant wickedness like seed; now, they harvest wickedness and evil.
[Job 4:8 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob Pellien: According to the Scriptures, the wicked will harvest to wickedness. Furthermore, they will reap disaster.
If you plant the seeds of injustice, disaster will spring up, and your oppression of others will end.
[Proverbs 22:8 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob Pellien: Wicked people may enjoy the fruits of their wrongdoing for a while, but the Lord guarantees that even in this life their wickedness will pay them back and eventually kill them. That’s why the wicked never have peace of mind. Instead, they’re always on the lookout for their enemies who plot evil against them. The punishment for the wicked, however, is not only reserved for the present life. The Bible teaches that the wicked will answer for their sins on the day of judgment:
But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word reserved for fire and to the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
[II Peter 3:7, 10 New King James Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: Hence, let us always consider the consequences of our choices. God, however, does not want us to receive His punishment and curse; He invites us to do good in order to reap the blessing He has reserved for the righteous.
I said, “Plow new grounds for yourselves. Plant righteousness and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your LORD, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.
[Hosea 10:12 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: The Lord is ready and willing to give us His blessings. The condition that must be met, however, is that one must plant righteousness and be devoted to the Lord. If one turns to the Lord, He promises “I will come and pour out blessings upon you.”
Among the deeds of righteousness as taught by the Holy Scriptures are giving to the needy (Proverbs 19:17); loving your neighbor, even our enemies (Proverbs 25:21,22); and helping the weak (Acts 20:35). If we do these things in accordance to God’s will, we will surely receive favor from our fellow man and, more importantly, blessing from the Father in heaven.
The person who sows righteousness in this life, however, is not only storing up blessing for this life, but most of all, for the life to come.
The man who reaps the harvest is being paid and gathers the crops for eternal life. So, the man who plants and the man who reaps will be glad together.
[John 4:36 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: The way to store up for eternal life is by being rich in good works:
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
[I Timothy 6: 18-19 New King James Version]
Brother Bob Pellien: The quality of life reserved for the righteous children of God is one that is free from tears, pains, sorrows, and death (Revelation 21:4). The reward for upright and righteous living is incomparable with anything this world offers. Which life should we choose to live? A life of righteousness or a life of wickedness? Let us use our freedom of choice wisely. Remember that the way we live in this world determines whether we are to receive eternal life in the Holy City or to be condemned. The Bible teaches: “you reap whatever you sow.” (Galatians 6:7 NRSV).
To find more articles like these, get your copy of God’s Message Magazine from a member of the Church Of Christ. You can also find the podcast version on incmedia.org. Thank you for listening. I’m Brother Bob Pellien. God bless.
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