CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY
Albert Farley
In Luke 10:38-42, we read that Jesus came to Bethany, and Martha welcomed Him into her house. Her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet to hear His Word. Martha became distracted with her work and complained to Jesus, asking Him to tell Mary to help her. Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
You and I had no choice in being born, but choices are an inevitable part of our lives. Sometimes, the consequences of our choices are relatively insignificant. Other choices are life-changing and can determine our eternal destiny. Mary chose to use the time and opportunity to listen to the Words of Life from the Lord Jesus Christ! She chose the good part.
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were given the basic choice of life. Genesis 2:16, 17. The Lord placed them in the garden and said they could freely eat of every tree except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He said, “… for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” They had eternal life before them, but they made the wrong choice and, on that day, died, spiritually. They brought sin into their lives – with all of its fatal consequences!
Today, we have the same choice to make. There are only two basic choices in life.
We have a choice between two masters. When the devil took Jesus upon the mountain to tempt Him to fall down and worship him, Jesus replied, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Matthew 4:10. No one can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24. The choice is ours.
We have the choice between two roads to travel. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. Once, Jesus’ followers were offended at His Words, and many left Him. He then asked His apostles, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:66-69.
We have the choice between two ways to live. To walk after Christ, we must bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. We must not practice the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, uncleanness [unnatural moral practices], lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and such like. Galatians 5:16-25. We must put to death the deeds of the flesh.
Yes, friends, true happiness is determined by the choices and decisions we make. When Jesus returns, all of us will be gathered into one of two groups and will stand either on the right hand or the left hand of the judgment seat of Christ. Matthew 25:31-32. We all will hear one of two final judgments: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” or “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:34, 41. There are only two places prepared for the human race at the end of the world. John 14:1-6.
Where will we live in eternity? It will be determined by the choices we make in this life. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. I pray you will choose life!