Each and every day we are presented with choices to make.  Some are routine and have little consequence, like choosing which color clothes to wear today.  Others are life changing and have far-reaching consequences.  It is very important to consider the long term effects of our daily choices.  Many feel the LORD will make their choices for them so it doesn’t matter anyway.  But we are not puppets on strings, for the LORD has given us free choice in every matter of life.  However, we have no choice over the consequences of our choices.

For example, the Lord Jesus spoke in Luke 6:47-49:
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Here the LORD tells us the flood, signifying trials and temptations, comes to all, whether your house is built on the rock (Jesus), or the world’s system.  We have a choice whether to build our lives on the LORD, or not.  He will not force His way into your life and control you.  BUT, if you build your life on Him, even though the flood comes and beats violently on your life, you cannot be shaken, for you are founded upon Him.  And the obverse is also true, if your life is built on the world’s system, when trials come and beat upon your life, you will fall, and great will be your loss.  It wasn’t God’s will for you to suffer loss, it was YOUR DECISION not to choose to submit yourself to God, and therefore the consequences were the result of your own choosing.

The Lord Jesus said in John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,  and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. So, we have been advised of the results of either choosing Satan’s way, or God’s way.  Satan is a thief, always has been, and always will be.  Don’t expect the devil to turn around a be your benefactor, for it will never happen.  On the other hand, God offers us life more abundantly.  He is not the one causing you trouble.  Indeed, the Lord Jesus came to RELIEVE our sufferings and sickness, not to make you sick or cause you trouble.  Remember when you were in school?  The teacher would hand out tests, and YOU had to supply the answer.  Do you ever remember the teacher handing out the answer sheet with the test?  Well, the LORD is putting you to the test today, and along with it, He is handing you the answer sheet.  Let’s look at Deuteronomy 30:19-20;

Deu 30:19  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:
Deu 30:20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
There you go, friends.  The LORD has not only handed out your test for today, but slipped you the answer sheet as well.  So, what are you gonna do?  If you’re smart you will CHOOSE LIFE!  Please note, the LORD is giving you the correct answer, but YOU must CHOOSE to make use of it.

When we are faced with trials and problems of all sorts, we also have the choice whether to come out on top, or to fail and suffer loss.  How is that?  It is written in Psalm 34:17-19:
Psa 34:17  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Since the LORD says He will deliver the righteous from ALL their afflictions, the correct answer is to choose to become righteous.  How do you do that?  Glad you asked!  Being “righteous” means to be in a right standing with God.  How do you do that?  By turning from your wickedness and forsaking it and turning to God with your whole heart.  Notice I said YOUR WHOLE HEART.  God is not interested in halfway being your Lord and Savior.  He is either LORD of ALL or He is not Lord at all.  So, it all boils down to your choice, do you want to do things YOUR way, or do you want to do it the LORD’S way?
With the LORD as the one who leads and guides you every step in your life, you are assured in the end you will win.  Now, I remind you, whether you choose to live for God, or live for yourself, the trials of life will violently beat against you. Living for God does NOT exempt you from problems.  BUT, if your life is built upon the LORD, you will survive and be standing when it’s all over.  It’s all a matter of choice, what you want the final outcome to be.  Remember, it’s YOUR choice, not God’s choice.  He wants you to WIN and be an OVERCOMER.  God did NOT create you to be fodder for the devil, but rather for you to triumph over him every time he comes to afflict you.  I read the back of the Book, and it says God and His children win.  So the most important choice you will ever make is to be one of God’s children!  Stop making excuses.  Stop saying, Well, I’m trying to follow God. Either do it or don’t.

Nobody is going to be “HALFWAY SAVED”.  As I’ve said many times, You will either hear “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your LORD“, or you will BE well done. It’s all a matter of choice.  Choose wisely!