From the Preacher’s Desk
By ED ALLARD
Monticello Church of Christ
Life’s Choices
From the beginning of mankind life has been an ongoing series of choices. God created Adam and Eve with the freedom of choice. They learned that there is no freedom without responsible choices.
Oh, how happy their life was while they made the choice to listen to God and do what He said for them to do.
We, like them can have a happier life by doing the same. Oh, how happy our life can be when we make the choice to listen to God and do what He says for us to do. We can make our life happy or happier by choosing to do so. Happier lives result from making right choices.
Right choices are choices that agree that our Creator knows best. Our daily life experiences are related directly to the decisions we make daily. Making right choices leads to happier experiences.
God didn’t stop Eve and then Adam from making wrong decisions, and He won’t us either. But He knows that when we make right choices we are molding character that results in happier lives. Character counts.
Think about it.
Even the public schools after having ignored the value of character for a number of years recognized the problems this caused with so many homes indifferent to character building values.
Nine years ago this month, the Georgia State Board of Education adopted a core list of 41 values and character education concepts that needed to be taught in public schools.
But as was noted, this teaching must begin in the home as well as continued in the schools.
Just as God set in motion at creation laws of nature that when violated can cause untold unpleasant consequences, so He has immutable moral and spiritual laws that lead to good or bad. Obey God’s moral and spiritual laws and good results automatically. He who promises is true and so His promises are true.
Break God’s immutable moral and spiritual laws and bad consequences will follow. We see that in the biblical record from the time of Adam and Eve. Those that are observant see that will be the case until the end of time, when this old earth is no more.
God has given us an instruction manual for happiness, the Bible.
Matthew records Jesus’ message we call the Beatitudes. Each line begins with the word “Blessed.” It can also properly be translated, supremely blest, happy or happier.
God’s instruction manual for happiness is also a maintenance manual. God wants us to maintain that happy life that Jesus gives and wants us to have it not just abundantly, but more abundantly.
To the Jews God said, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20).
Moses’ successor Joshua said to them, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” These words come down to us today. Which will you choose?
Those that choose to serve the Lord in the way set out by the Lord Jesus are called God’s chosen. They are God’s chosen because they chose to follow God’s chosen way for them. That chosen way is the way of happiness.
Won’t you choose the way of happiness? Choose this day to make the right decisions. You will be choosing happiness. If I can help you in any way, please call on me.