Decisions! Decisions!
Life is full of decisions. We make them every day. We decide whether we want or need to get up in the morning. We decide whether we want to eat breakfast or grab something to snack on. We decide what we are going to wear today. These are just a few of the decisions we make each day. Suffice it to say we will make several decisions just today. In fact, you will decide whether to continue reading this post or you will dismiss it and go on about your business.
We began making decisions back when we were tiny little tots. We made some bad decisions too. Do we stick that toy with a point into that wall socket or not? Do we climb out of our crib or not? Do we use our crayon to write on the wall or not? I could go on and on about that too. We are just going to make decisions today. In fact, if you think about it, you have already made many decisions today.
We are tempted in every way to make decisions. Once again, we have been making those decisions all our life. And if you think about it, we often make the same decisions every day. As we mature, our decisions are often predicated on temptations. We are faced with many major temptations as we reach maturity.
There are just too many temptations out there for young people to say “yes” or “no” to. One decision they may have to make is to say “yes” or “no” to drugs and alcohol, just to name a couple. Many young get started because they just want to see what it’s like. To some, it will teach them that it tastes awful or it’s not too bad.
The second decision they make is will they remember what their parents told them about drugs and alcohol? Then they must decide to just say “NO” and walk away from it.
Another decision is whether they want to belong to a certain group. Many groups are really up to no good! If they follow that group, then they may end up in some trouble or even worse. Gangs are so prevalent today. Our young people really need to watch who they like and want to follow.
Proverbs 2:1-22 teaches that the pursuit of wisdom brings security. Very plainly it begins with the words, “…if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you.” There are several other “ifs” mentioned in the first four verses. Isn’t this what we try to teach our children? When there is the word “if” mentioned, there is most always the word “then” that follows. Verse five begins a series of “then’s” that follow.
The “if” represents a decision that every young person must make. He can either go in the way of Wisdom and find life, true love, and most importantly God, or he can turn his back on her and find only bitterness, isolation, and death. Here’s the important fact: one cannot opt out of making this decision or choose a little of one and a little of the other. If we fail to present this stark decision to young people, many will go in the wrong way and never even know they had a choice.
Here is the one decision every person must make in life. Will you admit you are a sinner and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, or will you deny Him and spend eternity in the depths of hell? If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you will have eternal life with Him. If you refuse to accept Christ, then you will live in eternal punishment in hell. This is the decision only you can make. God gave you the ability to choose. This decision now belongs to you!
Bob Lankford 