Choices

In the Book of Esther there is a verse that speaks more loudly to me this morning than any other. It is in the fourth chapter. Slide your finger down to the 14th verse and you will find this:

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” - Ruth 4:14

Esther was faced with a decision the day her uncle spoke those words to her. She had to confront the king, which could have led to her immediate death. But she risked it all, made her decision, and ultimately saved her people from annihilation.

My wife and I just got from a quick trip to Michigan. My niece's mother-in-law had died unexpectedly, and the funeral was Tuesday morning.

My niece and her husband have three wonderful children. All handled the open casket pretty well. At one point our niece took her five-year old son up front to say goodbye to "gramma." I watched. After his visit was done, this little guy came over to us and said, "Grandma's cold."

"Grandma needs a blanket," I said.

We sat behind the grandmother's other grandson. During the service the pastor offered an opportunity for others to come forward and offer their remembrances of Grandma." Many did.

The mom in front of us kept encouraging her son to go forward and say something but he continually refused. That decision will haunt him the rest of his life. I know. I made a similar decision about my own grandma and have regretted it ever since.

We all face decisions like that in life. Should we, or shouldn't we? Our daily decisions all have consequences. Some of those decisions have eternal consequences.

During the pastor's message that morning, he offered the chance to make another decision. A decision about Jesus. How we face THAT question truly DOES have eternal consequences.

According to the Christian faith, we all will live forever. There are two options for the location for our foreverness - heaven or hell. The choice is ours.

My niece's mother-in-law chose Christ long ago. He decision effected the lives of many people in her community. One got up and told a story of how "grandma" kept inviting her to church. She eventually relented and went. It changed this person's life.

Have you and I lived lives worthy of our calling? Will our choices be the right ones in God's eyes? Will we be missed as much as this grandmother is? Will we speak to someone about Jesus, even though we're afraid to say something?

It's OUR choice. What will we choose? Self? Or Jesus?

"Blessed be the name of the LORD now and forever." - Psalm 113:2