"Choices"

Rene Phillips Qualls

Each morning, when I wake up, I am faced with the first of many choices that will, throughout the day, demand my attention.  "Should I get up now, or should I just lay here ten minutes longer?"  "Should I fix Thomas an egg sandwich for breakfast, or should I fix him scrambled eggs, with mustard on top?"  Some choices, which I am presented with every day, come as regularly as clockwork.  I can count on having to make decisions about them, and what I decide is entirely up to me.  I can do whatever I want to.  I can choose my path, my way.  And, it is perfectly acceptable for me to do so.

There was in my life, however, one choice presented to me, which was different.  Given to me by God, it had to do with a "fork" in my road of life.  Would I choose the direction pointing toward life, or select the other way, leading to death?  Will it be the path of obedience and worship of God, or the other road, of disobedience to Him?  This was my choice.  And, regarding this topic, it was the only choice He gave me.  Which way will I go?  I chose the way leading to life.

After making my decision, my freedom of choice ended.  God allowed me to decide whether or not I would obey Him.  He did not give me the choice of how I would obey Him or how I would worship Him.  He told me how I was to do these things.  He told me when the Sabbath was.  I have never had the choice of selecting my own day for observing the Sabbath.  God gave me His perfect law.  In doing so, He made my chosen path easy to follow.  It is narrow, so I have no room to stray off it.  It is straight, so I will always know what lies ahead of me.  I can always see where I am going.  There are no winding stretches of road, obscuring my view from my final destination.  My chosen way offers the most beautiful scenery.  Nothing is desolate or ugly, as it is on the other road. Unlike the darkness found on the wide path, the narrow way is always full of light.  Yes, the Lord gave me His "road map of life" to follow, easy to read and understand.  As long as I keep referring to it, I will not get lost.

God begs me not to take the other path, the path which leads to death.  He wants to be my Guide during this time in my journey.  And He is always there to encourage me . . .  to love me.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.  For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

"Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever" (Psalm 16:11).

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).

Jesus Christ, when presented with the "fork" in the road, chose the way to life.  If we follow Him, we will walk in the light, and live.  Walking in His footsteps, we will not be stumbling in the darkness, on the road to death.

"Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life'" (John 8:12).

If we need help in making this decision -- between light and darkness, between narrow and wide, between life and death -- our Heavenly Father is always ready to point us in the right direction.

"Who is the man who fears the LORD?  He will instruct him in the way he should choose" (Psalm 25:12).

The choice that we make has consequences, not only for us, but also for our children.

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Choose the path that leads to LIFE!

Copyright © 2002 René Phillips Qualls (Used by permission)