Every day of our lives we make decisions. Even this morning we had to make a decision whether to get up or stay in bed. We made decisions to get dressed and to wear specific clothing, to have morning devotions, to have our breakfast, and to go out to work, or to study, or whatever, or not to go out at all.
When a person comes to the age of accountability he must make a decision whether he should continue his studies and pursue a career, a profession, or a trade, or to remain just as a common laborer. He must decide whether he should pay rent or buy a house.
As a person thinks for the future, he decides whether to remain single, or look for a partner for life. He must make a choice of the companion that should stay at his side for better or worse, in health or sickness, in poverty or wealth, in joy or sorrow, in prosperity or adversity, “till death do us part.”
One of the most important decisions that every person must make is whether he will believe and obey God, whether he will accept Jesus Christ as his Savior; whether he will be a good Christian, a nominal Christian, an infidel or unbeliever.
The Bible gives us examples of good and bad choices that people have made. Here are some that made bad choices:
“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15).
“The Lord suffered Balaam to follow his own inclinations, and try, if he chose so to do, to please both God and Man.” 1
“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Hebrews 12:16).
“Those who are bartering the eternal weight of glory for a little of the glitter and tinsel of earth, the everlasting habitations for a home which can be theirs but a few years at best, are making an unwise choice. Such was the exchange made by Esau, when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.” 2
“Judas was numbered among the disciples. He had every advantage a man could have; but although he heard the truth, and listened to the principles so plainly laid down, Christ knew that he did not receive the truth. He did not eat the truth. It did not become part of himself. His old habits constantly asserted themselves.” 3
Men of the Bible that made good decisions include:
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Hebrews 11:24–26).
“Moses sacrificed a prospective kingdom, a life of worldly honor and luxury in kingly courts, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, for he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt.” 4
Because Moses refused the earthly glory, instead of being in a museum as a mummy he is now in heaven.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).
“Daniel could join in the debilitating, corrupting practices of the courtiers, or he could resist the influence that tended downward. He chose the latter course. He purposed in his heart that he would not be corrupted by the sinful indulgences with which he was brought in contact, let the consequences be what they might.” 5
This is the timely counsel that God gives to every one of us, and He appeals to us to make the right decision:
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
“Individually, we are deciding our eternal destiny, deciding whether we shall enjoy the highest honor that can be given to man, even an eternal weight of glory, or be ranked with Satan by possessing his character, by dishonoring God because we profess to be Christians while misrepresenting Christ. Those who choose to reveal the character of the arch-deceiver identify themselves with him beyond the possibility of a change, because they choose not to see themselves as wrong.” 6
“All are now deciding their eternal destiny. Men need to be aroused to realize the solemnity of the time, the nearness of the day when human probation shall be ended.” 7
“The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.” 8