Consequences

23 Feb

“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.” (Dt 30:15)

Did that grab your attention?

I would think it did when Moses spoke it to his people as they were on their way to the Promised Land.

His people’s track record was rather abysmal.  They had strayed, often, on their journey, and they paid the consequences for doing so.

Moses’ admonition was just as valid in the time of the Lord.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus said pretty much the same thing:  “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Lk 9:24-25)

Moses’ and Jesus’ admonition is just as valid for us, thousands of years later.

We have choices to make.

Each choice has consequences.

Sometimes those consequences are very clear, sometimes they are a bit fuzzy.  Clear or fuzzy, however, the consequences are very real.

You would think that people would want good things to happen to them, that they would want to feel happy, that, ultimately, they would want eternal happiness and bliss.

Why, then, do people often choose things that take them down dark and dangerous paths?

Even more, when they choose these things, why do so many often end up blaming God?  It was their choice that got them into the predicaments that they were in, not God’s choice.

God’s choice for us is peace and love, joy and contentment.  His desire is that each and every one of us would choose Him and His will for our lives.

We have choices to make today.  Some of those choices will lead to pain, anguish, or heartache.  Other choices will lead to happiness, joy, or fulfillment.

Want do you want today?

Choose well.

FAITH ACTION:  Take time today to list some of the major choices you have made in the past several months as well as the consequences of those choices.  If you see a pattern that is not desirable, make a plan for yourself to choose more wisely.  If your choices have led to good consequences, take time in prayer to thank God for giving you the wisdom that you needed to choose well.