Integrity- People of God

CHOICES

As we discussed, our lives are the sum total of our choices. Though we may not have realized it when we were young, it was the choices we made as youth and young adults that set the course of our lives. This is one of the created gifts from God, man’s ability to choose. The choices we make will not only affect our life but it will influence our eternity. What we fail to associate with our choices are the consequences that follow.

In the natural physical world there are principles and natural laws that flow, some call it Karma or cause and effect, for every action, there is a reaction and for all choices there are corresponding actions or results of those choices. We do not like to hear the word consequences because it brings a negative connotation to mind, but good or bad there are results with every decision we make in the natural. But God has provided a supernatural way of escape from our past through the blood of Christ.

Many people do not want to be responsible for their own actions and want to believe the things they are going through just happened or are someone else’s fault. Some things we experience may not be a direct reflection of our choices but they may be legacies from our parents and past generations. Some people call them generational curses or children living on the blessings of their parents.

We have seen if fall both ways children end up in poverty because of the poor choices of their parents and children undeserving inheriting wealth as the result of their parents work and dedication. These are natural principles that flow like gravity will naturally pull things to the earth. It is only when we implement a great law or principle can we move beyond the impact of the lesser law.

Gravity will pull everything to the ground but when a greater law of flight is implemented then gravity must give way to the greater law. The same principle with the natural law of the sins of the father will be on the children or cause and effect. If we implement the greater law, Jesus’ payment for our sins then the consequence of our natural parents and our own actions are cancelled. When we accept Jesus we have a new Father, a new inheritance, we are a new creation and old things are passed away.

We cannot predict the future but, we can learn from the past, from the choices we made and where they lead us, we can choose to make different choices. Those that choose to study and advance their education most times have a greater chance at making a comfortable living. This is a rule of thumb not absolutes because we have seen the opposite on both sides of the spectrum.

Just as those who choose to pursue God’s word and walk in it tend to live life with meaning and purpose. Life may never be perfect or without challenges but it can have meaning. We want to be careful with how we define God followers, they are not those who go to church and claim to be religious. They are those who actually seek to know the true God, develop a relationship with their creator and walk in His way, He has promised the things the world goes after.

There are the naysayers who refuse to believe the Word of God and they tend to allow life experiences, their culture, and other people to define truth for them. We are all given a life to live with a created purpose, and that is to bring glory to God on the earth. God did not change His created purpose for man even though mankind chose not to follow God but obeyed Satan.

Throughout time people change, time changes, life experiences differ, and our culture changes but God stays the same. We also at times allow our culture, which magnifies a particular way of living life experiences and even other people to define truth and direction for us. If we do not have a compass that points to the “true north” (the Bible) to direct us we can be blown in any direction. We have seen it too often with the decisions leaders make and have the masses follow, Hitler to name one. People are led to destruction because they lack the knowledge of God’s truth.

We have heard it said, “Raising children is guess work, they did not come with a manual?” That is culture speaking because God has given us a guide book, His word; in it we find directions and instruction on how to raise our children.  The Bible is like most manuals, people do not read the instructions and then wonder why things are not working well. Since the fall of man, when he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man thinks he has all the knowledge he needs to live life. This is another lie from the enemy.

God never changes, He did not change His created purpose, and all men were created in His image.  With the fall of man, we no longer looked like or acted like what we were created to be. Man had lost the image and the character of God. God said His ways are not man’s ways. Man is so far removed from what he was created to be. It took Christ to come and reinstate us back into the family of God and show us our created purpose and our true character.

Jesus had compassion for all the people especially for the least in society. Those who were without the best things, people who were sick and hungry. He loved others more than He loved His own life.  He died to give us grace, mercy and to show us the love of God through His words and actions.

If we must take a position or a stance on a belief, let it be the infallible Word of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. We should not let our limited knowledge, life experiences or the things we go through define who we are. The world is in a fallen state of chaos and sin. We have an enemy who comes to try to kill and steal our identity and the purpose we were created to be, in the image of God. There is a struggle, we have opposition but we can live this life victoriously.

We are the beloved children of God. This world system will try to destroy our purpose, our hope, and our future. The Most High God did not leave us in that state of depravity, thank you Lord. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. God has given us His written word in the Bible to give us light in this dark place and it gives us understanding to know how to live this life victoriously.

Proverbs 34: 12-14 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NIV

Psalms 1:1-3   Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before your life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.