Choices

When I was younger, I remember several times when two of my friends and myself would be hanging out together. Friend A would ask his mom if Friend B could spend the night. The mom would in turn say "yes, why don't we see if Rand can spend the night too?" Then Friend A would ask if I wanted to spend the night. The whole time I knew that the only reason he was asking me was because his mom went so far as to make him. How did that make me feel? I surely didn't want to spend the night after that. If I wasn't wanted, why would I want to be there?

It's similar to our relationship with God. He desires for us to be with Him, but He will not force us to be. He has given us everything we have and everything that we are. He gave us His only Son so that we may join Him after our time on this earth has concluded. But by far one of the most awesome gifts He has given us is choice. God allows us to choose Him or not.

Life is full of choices. You choose what you will wear, what you will eat, how hard you will work, how you will treat others, and many other things. The choices you make shape your life. Ultimately it all comes down to your decisions. Yes, there are plenty of things in this life that you cannot control, but how you react to these uncontrollable events, determines what direction your life goes.

Jesus said, "You did not chooce me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." - John 15:16

I often imagine sitting down in a chair and my life being projected onto a movie screen. I begin to think about other people being in the room with me. Everyone from my wife, parents, friends, and others that I have only known a short period in my life are seated facing the screen. I envision watching the beginning and reliving how cute I was as a small boy. Then I see things getting ugly.

Every good thing I have ever done is displayed on the screen. Every bad, horrible, and disgusting thing I have ever done or even thought is also shown for everyone to see. I think about how the people in the room would react. How long would they last? I'm sure some would leave at the very first sign of trouble in my life. I know that some would hang on as long as they could because of how much they love me. It would be impossible for anyone to sit through the whole ordeal.

As my life progresses on the big screen, I can only think about how I would like to escape this room and this viewing of all my deeds. The embarrassment and shame of the entire situation would be way too much to handle. As I sit there continuing to watch this horror film, I quietly shake my head as people steadily stream out the door. I can barely bring myself to watch anymore when I realize that everyone has left. At least I thought everyone had exited.

That is when I notice there is one person left. He sits watching the screen, never looking away. The look on his face is one of sadness, heartbreak, and....compassion. When I look at him,I am overcome with personal disappointment, as when you let down the person that is mort important to you in life. My shame is quickly replaced with hope.

I finally realize that Jesus accepts me how I am. He knows everything there is to know about me. He has seen the good, and he's certainly seen the bad. Yet still he suffered and died for me. He died for you. He CHOSE to lay down his own life so that you may have abundant life.

He did not die so that you my struggle through this life and hold on so that you can make it to heaven. He wants you to live life and live it to the fullest.

Just as Jesus had a choice 2000 years ago, you have a choice today. He is standing near with His arms wide open. He wants to love you just the way you are.

What will you decide?

Say Yes.