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Decisions

Traffic is coming down the street toward you. You are faced with a decision. Attempt to cross the highway and just make it or wait. Many of us face that type of decision many times a day. So many in fact that we hardly remember them yet should that decision prove to be wrong your life is changed forever. You underestimate the speed of the oncoming traffic and are hit broadside. You lose both legs and are paralyzed from the waist down. That seemingly small decision has had a profound impact on everything else in your life since then.

Many seemingly minor decisions turn out to be major. You choose a restaurant and a food dish then leave with food poisoning. What would have happened had you chosen another place to eat? On and on I could go.

What about all those decisions we make about which person to date? Then you make a decision to marry. What was that based on? Often people make wrong decisions on the marriage partner. That anger he had turns into physical abuse. That flirt that you enjoyed did not stop with marriage and now you are left for someone else. Again I could keep making illustrations but this is sufficient to make the point.

One makes decisions and has to live with the consequences!

Which job offer you take will result in the people you work with for years. You college decision will introduce you to life-long friends. Where you go to church will bring you into contact with certain people that will become a part of your life.

Every decision has ramifications.

We may often make other decisions to try to correct past ones. We make new decisions based on lessons learned from the past.

Remember that new decisions do not totally erase the consequences of past ones.

There is no way to reverse the past but there are ways to change the present and future.

We can receive forgiveness for the past through the Blood of Jesus as we repent and pray. We may receive forgiveness from others but sometimes others do not forgive but you must just live with that. Not all past failures and past decisions are sin as such, but just poor information or immature knowledge.

I would also like to point out that, that decision you made that brought you joy and peace and proved to be wise and wonderful is the fruit of that decision. Rejoice in the ones you got right! Ha! Wise and Spirit-led decisions produce the fruits of the Spirit and you are blessed.
Even Godly decisions can often require great suffering. Consider a person that chooses to stand for Jesus and is imprisoned or killed for their belief.

I so often have people asking me “why’ about their lives. I cannot answer the “why’s’ of life but I do encourage you to see that decisions often bring unforeseen consequences. We are to learn and make wise decisions now.

It is very important to realize the possible outcome of your decisions. Think ahead. Should I do this what is the probable outcome? What are the other possible outcomes? Should you have the time write them all down and look at them and pray.

Look at it this way.
I am faced with a decision.
The possible outcome of this is’¦
However as I look at the possible outcome there are four or five or more ways this could work out.
Now, should any of these possible outcomes happen, what would be your response?
Seeing the possible result should you go forward in this or stop?

This should all be covered in prayer. Even though you know God is leading you to do something then still consider the possible outcome so that you will be prepared to make the correct decisions.

In today’s world too many people are making decisions based on simple appeal, or looks, or gratification or desire.
I remember my wife often says when people ask her to eat something temping that she does not need but would taste good. “Thank you, it looks good but I do not want to wear it.’ (Those calories turn to fat and you will be carrying it for a long time.)
She is seeing the appeal but looking past the moment to the result of that action and the consequences and making a decision not based on appeal or desire but intelligent knowledge. And she has the will to carry out the decision.

This is not a teaching on how to know the will of God in your life. You may want to look back and read those columns.

“Think forward as to the possible outcome of your decisions in life.’

Jesus offers us some things that we must make a decision about. Your response to them will determine you life now and in the future.

He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:15

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, they will obey my teaching. My Father will love that person, and we will come to that person and make our home with them.
John 14:23

Jesus said, “Follow Me.”
John 1:43

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through Me.
John 14:6

God bless you and as you live with Jesus and follow Him I pray you will seek His will for your life in every way. Remember that there are no little decisions; all have the potential for being big ones.

The ramifications of some decisions continue through eternity.

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1