It's Your Choice

Have you ever experienced ordering in a restaurant and after the waiter delivered the food, you've said to yourself that you should have ordered the other one? In life, we always have to make choices. As others say, "Life is a choice."

You've made wrong choices in life that you regretted, right? From simple choices of the scent of the perfume that you're going to purchase way up to choosing whether you're going to leave your family for a living or not. Our choices will definitely make a difference.

All italics that you are about to read came from the book "He Chose the Nails" by Max Lucado. I've been blessed and inspired by this book and all I can say is that you are missing something if you haven't read it yet.

From the start, God has designed humans with free will. Our freedom to choose is one of the greatest gift from the Father. Adam and Eve chooses to eat the forbidden fruit. And that's the start of many choices laid in the Bible.

Abel and Cain, both sons of Adam. Abel chooses God. Cain chooses murder. And God lets him.

Abraham and Lot, both pilgrims in Canaan. Abraham chooses God. Lot chooses Sodom. And God lets him.

David and Saul, both kings of Israel. David chooses God. Saul chooses power. And God lets him.

Peter and Judas, both deny their Lord. Peter seeks mercy. Judas seeks death. And God lets him.

In every age of history, on every page of Scripture, the truth is revealed: God allows us to make our own choices. And no one delineates this more clearly than Jesus. According to him, we can choose:

a narrow gate or a wide gate (Matt. 7:13–14)

We can choose to:

build on rock or sand (Matt. 7:24–27)

serve God or riches (Matt. 6:24)

be numbered among the sheep or the goats (Matt. 25:32–33)

What really amazed me was the scene in the Calvary's hill. Have you ever wondered why there were two crosses next to Christ? And why Jesus was in the center? 

The two criminals have so much in common. Convicted by the same system. Condemned to the same death. Surrounded by the same crowd. Equally close to the same Jesus. In fact, they begin with the same sarcasm: “The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus” (Matt. 27:44 cev).

But one changed.

One of the criminals on a cross began to shout insults at Jesus: “Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.” But the other criminal stopped him and said, “You should fear God! You are getting the same punishment he is. We are punished justly, getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39–43)

The other criminal chose to repent and put his faith on Jesus. While the other chose to mock Him. Though the changed criminal has made bad choices in life, he was able to make a good one at the end. What's more important is our choice when it comes to life after death. Eternal life or eternal punishment? Heaven or hell? Jesus or ourselves?

Jesus chose to redeem you from the debt of sins and nailed it to the cross. How about you? Will you choose the One that laid His life for you?

The choice is yours.