Decisions
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Outlines of Faith
Decisions
Greg Tidwell
"Therefore do not throw away your confidence,
which has a great reward. For you have need of
endurance, so that when you have done the will of
God you may receive what is promised. For, 'Yet a
little while, and the coming one will come and
will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by
faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no
pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who
shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who
have faith and preserve their souls" (Hebrews
10:35-39).
Life is filled with decisions. Most are trivial. A
few matter. We agonize over a choice of restaurant
or movie for an evening's entertainment, flipping
from channel to channel on a remote to select a
program – knowing that tomorrow we really won't
care which choice we made.
The decisions which do matter are the ones we will
care about tomorrow, and next week, and next year.
Some decisions make a difference over a very long
time. We realize the importance of buying a car or
a house, of pursuing an education and choosing a
career, of marriage and children. These decisions
make a difference over a lifetime.
Beyond today, tomorrow, next year, or even a
lifetime, one central decision makes a difference
for eternity. The commitment to become a Christian
is the most important decision anyone can make. It
makes the difference between heaven and hell.
As important as becoming a Christian is, one must
remain a Christian to receive the reward. There
is, as the author of Hebrews reminds us, a need
for endurance. Fidelity is a choice. Day by day we
must rise to the challenge and keep our commitment
of faith. The new birth in Christ begins with a
decision which is embodied in baptism. Making this
decision brings us into salvation. Living in
Christ involves a continual commitment; it is this
faith which keeps us saved. Choosing Christ, once
for all, is the most important decision we can
make.
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