In the beginning was God, the Word, and the Spirit of majesty that determined Creation was necessary, not for any specific purpose, simply for His Own Good Pleasure. The Lord, content alone, wanted someone to nurture, support, love and grow that He might from time throughout their curious lives wish to walk with Him and investigate the limits and depth of existence and relationship with their Creator. There was nothing absent in this dynamic display of creative authority and to make certain that it was not some simple replica, reflection or make believe reality, he included the unpredictable seeds of chaos or perfection in the concept of choices by Free Will. He would not govern in a manner that was iron fisted requiring all to behave a certain fashion or conform to a certain ideal though He express all right, authority and intent that they do so, He allowed all to choose. No avatars, no daydream, no escape from the accountability facing each of us at the end of our time within the existence, for this life was created for its specific talent for delivering the harsh awakening that accompanies the Truth.
From this point forward the Lord allowing all to make certain choices drew a time line within the sands of man’s completion, for being eternal, He had no purpose for time. Though He knew that man’s inclination would be to test the limits of authority and venture to disobedience in their choices made, just as the angels had done previously. The difference in this real manifested Earthen existence is that having known what would occur beforehand He prepared a method at outset to redeem all but one choice the denial of this gift called salvation. What would become of man now that they were told of the escape mechanism from the prior mistake of choice? Would they turn from the ill intent that sponsored that reckless and regrettable choice or would they maintain their position, defiant, unhealed, eventually condemned in their own disagreeable ignorance or bliss?
Now the Twist, into the mix an enemy sowed deceptive tactics designed to shroud the truth, obscure the price of making these determinations and swindle the gifts freely given to all by their Holy Creator. Lies would be devised with such grand technique that only the spirit of God living within a man would deter their eventual downfall. Those having heard the Grand Call to Grace and obeyed through the acceptance of Spirit found those around them vulnerable to its enchanting cry of freedom that truly meant its opposite. For those who hoped to escape God’s Will for their lives through disobedience would find themselves indebted, enslaved by the fallen angel who would bring them nothing but misery and eventual eternal punishment in separation from the God who lovingly designed them to be free. They would get their wish, they would live outside of God’s Will or so they thought only to come crashing down upon the granite reality that God created in the realization that God’s Will would enter in their everlasting and final judgment. The enemy laughed for time until he himself was judged and placed within the same container meant only for angels, that would include a huge swath of humanity simply through their disobedience, stubbornness or deception. All would fall who listened to his version of the truth, for in so doing they would be blinded to the only Absolute Truth available in this or any universe, the Truth of Almighty God found through Christ Jesus Alone.
Okay now the present, today, the only day that really matters, the only day over which we have any manner of control, influence or authority. Today, the wonderful day that God has given us to make of whatever we see possible and if we see the impossible as possible then it may be achieved through Christ. Yes, although we have some manner of understanding that the past gives us models and scenarios for comparison from which to glean experience and expectation for the purpose of making our own lives easier than those in the historic model. We are still left with the understanding that we have the honorable gift of making these choices through our own determination, modeling, guessing or relying upon the Word of God in resolution of those problems before us. It all winnows down again to the idea of choices made today that we might live a better tomorrow, ironically reflective of God’s intention for humanity. So making my choices today will lead me to the potential of a tomorrow that I have not yet seen but have some measure of hope that it will somehow be a brighter place that is only achieved through the prudent decisions that came with yesterday’s choice. You see it all follows the same paradigm? We must all have hope otherwise we don’t study history, we are not concerned with the quality of our choices and we don’t put faith hope and trust in the choices we’ve made to bring us to a tomorrow in which we were devoid of hope. Without Hope there is no concern for choice, unless it is simply the stomach’s growl, the loins call, the lusts siren demand for sustenance and quenching. Therefore Hope, is a belief in the things not yet seen. Therefore those who make decisions are operating within God’s paradigm for future fulfillment based upon an idea that something better awaits all of us as a product of the decisions we make today.
Now for the differentiating factor; what is the motivator that drives that vision of a future for which we all make hopeful daily decisions? Is your hope in this world? Is it in some relationship, some bounty, some security, finance or wealth? Is it in the realization of historic glory, where your name is posted on the billboards, social media surfaces and pages of history for all to search and ponder now and after your passing? Is it for some home into which you will pour all of your efforts, desires, life and treasure, building for a family that is not yet here? Is it for your business that it may become the immortal extension of you when you’re gone, that your name might be displayed on its bylaws past your mortal ending? Or are you living for the lusts and hungers of today alone, never concerned with tomorrow for you will go out in a blaze of lightning today if it were to come as some realization of a nirvana or state of epiphany? There is a drive for your hope. What is it? Do you quest for some achievement in this world, which drives those decisions upon which your hope resides? Or have you heard the Truth of God’s Word in that this world is not your home, only a temporary training residence and that your hope is in a day that cannot yet be seen except through the telescope of Faith in God’s Truth and Promise of Eternity?
What are you living for, it is either for God for something else, there is no matter how much you wish there to be no middle ground in this question? It is one of those pestering questions for which most avoid a discussion or even listening to a pastor who preaching in expository. The Lord God has told us the Truth. I have made a significant argument that it is the choices that we make which determine our future whether or not that future is one focused upon worldly events or something eternally minded. It is the hope that God created that forces us to have a vision of where we are going in order to be even minutely concerned about the quality of today’s choices. If we are living for God then we make choices based upon the Word he has given us, the relationship we have in tandem and the direction we receive through the power of His indwelling, Spirit’s Will. Certainly, there are those of us who may venture into a reality where we have one foot in eternity and one upon the Earth, but the Lord’s Word expressly tells us what to expect as result of this practice. Backsliding or serving the world is something that as a decision made by those who proclaim a faith in the Truth of God’s Word will be the most excruciating, concrete outcome known to man. You cannot serve two Masters, if you are and you somehow have devised a method through which you and you alone are going to avoid the consequences, then you have departed from the Word of God and I pray for your soul in the outcome, because you are not going to like it when it arrives. Now is the time of certain and simple clarity and Truth of purpose and action. We are all adults and the children entrusted to our care are even greater reason to establish this manner of clarity for all your family. You know when asked if you are serving God’s Will for your life or if you are chasing the aspiration and hopeful choices for achieving some Earthly reward.
I know this because it is by far the most frequent question that I receive from Christians, that being, “What is God’s Will for my life”? This is an escape ploy and avoidance mechanism to deny the fact that first; the Bible tells us what God’s Will is for All Christians and secondarily that you know what His will is for your life but don’t want it to be the truth or the sacrifice of which He is commanding you. You are being naïve and coy with a God who knows your heart and that is eternally foolish. It is time for us to make a decision, a choice, since we all make choices based upon our hope of a greater tomorrow. God has promised you Eternity, Adoption, Inheritance, Service, Rule and Reign, Power and Authority and Eternal Love spent with Him in a body that does not feel pain, get sick, grow old and will not decay or die. If that is not enough upon which to base your hopeful vision to stimulate the God Based choices you are making each and every day than nothing will ever be enough. I Wish to tell the Story the greatest Story of Glory, sacrifice and Love expressed for all mankind that ALL might be saved and find themselves spending eternity with a Holy and Righteous God. There are rules that He set forth in order to receive this hopeful future that clarity of which are unmistakable to all. We must believe upon the virgin birth of Christ Jesus, that He lived a sinless life that He might become the perfect sacrifice to pay for the sins of ALL Mankind, historical and future, if they would but believe that He took their punishment upon that Cross and died having become ALL SIN and was resurrected and arose to be with the Father in Heaven, just as those who believe shall be. He lives now within each believer, cleansing, transforming, preparing them for that future we hold in such regard.
What is the basis for each decision I made today? Did I make it in quiet agreement with the Word, Prayer and the Voice of God within my heart? Do I live each day with the end in mind, the end for us that means the beginning? Have I lived like I will never die? What is the nature of my hope and what the vision which it inspires? For what am I living and upon which vision are my decisions being hopefully constructed? Do I live for now of for then? Am I concerned that my now is not working out how I planned or am I looking at my now in contented and hopeful faith that God has prepared this now that I might get to that glorious day, Then? What is your simple clarity? Is it profoundly simple just as the choices made represent God’s gift of free will choice or are they complex, difficult and requiring evidence and supporting argument that portend a dedication to the things of this world. It’s okay, you can choose whatever your heart desires. I pray that you choose Christ, but I love you so much I understand if you can’t see your way to that hopeful promise. For now I just pray that you will take a moment and ask God quietly to give you the clarity of your purpose that you might be free to pursue that which is truly within your heart. If you choose this world, the Bible tells you what to expect, I am sorry that eternity is not your thing. I still love you and pray that God touches the center of your heart with a hope constructed upon the foundation of His Everlasting Love for You. In Jesus’ Mighty Name I pray that we all come to the knowledge of that hopeful future and begin making decisions consistent with our Free Will choice.