Choices confront us every day. How and what we choose can pave the way for life’s experiences. God has set before us choices that can bring the blessings of God. The Bible is a wonderful book written from the heart of God that shares His hopes and desires for all human beings everywhere. The scriptures describe the trials and joys of many believers and non-believers — examples to follow and others to avoid.

So, do you ever wonder why some people don’t receive the goodness and blessings of our Lord, especially the forgiveness of their sins? Jesus took on the sins of humanity as He suffered on the cross. In Psalms 22 it was prophesied 1000 years before the occurrence that our Lord would be the sin offering for all of mankind. The ugliness and depravity of man’s sinful nature was so horrific that Father God Himself turned His back on His only Son, Jesus. God the Father could not look at His only begotten son bearing our sins. When that ultimate torture of isolation from Father God occurred, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hath thou forsaken me?” Mark 15:34

Now the question is, “Why, if our sins are paid for don’t more people receive Jesus as their Savior and have their sins forgiven?

Well, friends, it all comes down to our decisions. We are presented with the choices of:

Life? or Death?

Bondage? or Freedom?

Selfishness? or Selflessness?

Heaven? or Hell?

Good? or Evil?

A purpose-filled life? or Life without meaning?

What is your response? The choice is yours! It is really sad to think that God gave the greatest gift He could give–His only begotten Son–to and for mankind, yet many choose self and religion (man’s rules) as a replacement. It is beyond my understanding as to why someone would turn away from the path that leads to life. God has made it so plain and clear. Choices to deny Jesus are made every day. My, how it must grieve the Holy Spirit of God to see people going through so much strife, grief and selfishness when God’s offer of reconciliation is available to all.

II Peter 3:9 KJV “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

John 10:10 KJV describes clearly why Jesus came and what is His will for us. “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.”

II Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift…”

The scripture says in II Corinthians 4:4 that the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbeliever lest he see the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan is simply a fallen archangel—he was created finite and limited in knowledge and ability. He cannot read your mind. However, he is a liar and deceiver and bombards your thought life with fiery darts and negativity. He specializes in trying to turn people away from God. Often we blame God instead of taking responsibility for our choices and recognizing that we have a real enemy who desires to destroy God’s people.

Ephesian 2:2-6 KJV “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

It all comes down to choices. God created us with a free will and He has always desired that we make good choices. From the beginning in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve God gave us the freedom to make choices!

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV “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:”

I pray that each one of you will always CHOOSE LIFE!