March 29, 2021

A Choice

©1999 AMKCH

It is a choice to believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It’s a choice of WHOM we will serve: either the world and its evil ways, and man’s way of thinking, or God, who perfects us as we obey Him and do His Will.

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

It is totally impossible for us humans to please God if we are living according to the world’s ways.

Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The angels and demons know what’s going on in the invisible world of spirits… and the fight is over us humans.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The Bible is a window that God has given us to see the order of the unseen. We have to make a choice to believe either this IS THE window of THE Truth, which, having done that, then, has the power to save our souls; or choosing NOT to believe it, denying its and God’s power. It’s totally up to us; choosing to deny with the very power that God gave us: the power of choice.

Rom 1:20-23 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Look at it this way: Faith is choosing to believe that what’s written in the Bible, IS the Truth and laying hold of it for ourselves. Only then has it the power to save us.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Jesus Christ tells us ONLY BELIEVE.

Jn 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

1 Pet 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

The world wants us to SEE first and THEN believe… God wants us to believe first… and THEN we will see.

We believe (because we have been taught) in the existence of atoms… yet we cannot see them…. THAT is faith… Another example: we believe in the value of money… although it has no value to God… but we take it on faith, by the word of MAN that when we use it to purchase an item, we will be able to take that item home with us. Again… we can’t see germs, or microbes… but does that mean they are not there? NO… but we believe they are… THAT’S faith! We have been taught by man that they exist… because man has made machines to prove it. That’s faith… It’s not much more of a stretch to take God at His Word… and just believe it. All we have to do is look around us at what He created. THERE’S your proof! Even scientists and astronomers are running right smack dab into God as they do their research, INCLUDING DARWIN AND EINSTEIN! In case you didn’t know, Darwin recanted his theory of “evolution” before his death, but the “courts” wouldn’t listen nor accept it… Why? Because they are of the world, and not of God. But I have news for them:

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (whether the people voted them into office or not)

If we believe that God exists… why would we not also believe He would give us written instructions on how to live Godly lives from a Book that HE inspired man to write. It is simply a question of CHOOSING to believe it.

Hebrews 11 shows us a few humans who CHOSE to believe that what God said was TRUTH…. and they were blessed… and it was counted to them as righteousness.

Heb 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

My interpretation of this verse goes like this: Now my believing is the title deed… the assurance… the foundation, of things for which I pray, the proof of those things I cannot see.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5-6 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11-12 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the inn keeper Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35-38 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

It is impossible for man to please God without first choosing to believe that what is written in the Bible is God’s own Truth… from His own “lips” so to speak, through the mouths of those writers.

Jesus Christ said that man cannot live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4). That Word – from the mouth of God, comes to us via the Holy Spirit which God gave us. God loves us so much that He gave us all kinds of messages and teachings of the way we should live thru His Son; and thus have the victorious life in Him.

We can choose either: to believe it, or not.

All thru the Bible… people have to choose…

Deut 30:19-20 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: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Although these verses were written to the Israeli’s, they count even today. For, for us to love and obey God now, AFTER Christ ascended to His Father, AFTER He had given His life for the sins of humanity, we are even MORE blessed to have HIM as our mediator and friend while we are alive during THIS aion (age).

Matt 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive

Matt 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16-17 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

By studying God’s Word, we can know, and come to the point of making that good choice whether to believe and trust God, and SEE, or go along with, the world’s ways, blinded by it.

Online chatrooms are full of unbelievers. I come across them constantly. Some of them just outright curse God, some just deny His existence, and some are really seeking, yet don’t have enough “proof” of His existence. Some are cold and hardened, but some are eagerly seeking the truth… but need that physical proof. Nevertheless, they ALL NEED God… whether they choose to believe it or not. And we, as God’s witnesses, can show them that proof; show them how God has worked in our lives; show them how HE takes care of His kids…

On the other hand: Some people would use the following to say that “we are just puppets to God”. “He uses us, then throws us away”.

Jer 10:23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

As this is the Word of God, I cannot dispute this. I can’t. There is no dispute for those that truly love and trust Him. However, when we understand His word, we can take the choices He gave us and make the correct decision. For example: I can choose which way I would walk or drive to a destination. The choices are there… I could go up this street or that highway. Or, I can choose to eat or not eat, and when or what I want to eat. I can choose which career I would like to follow or not choose. The choices are there. Man has no idea how to live the life that God has planned for us without making the choices that obey Him.

What this verse is saying is that unless God had made those choices possible, we would not be able to follow them. We are not “just puppets”. We do have choices to make as we live our lives. But there are consequences to the choices we make. And these are listed throughout the Word of God. I’ve listed only a few here.

Prov 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

There’s a choice right there: to strive to be perfect or to be wicked. The consequences are life or death.

See also 1 Sam 12:7; 1 Kings 8:32; 2 Chron 6:23: Job 17:9; Ps 1:5-6, 12; 7:9, 11; 11:5; 34:15, 17; etc. I suggest looking up the word “Righteous” in a concordance. Then do a study on the word “wicked”.

Many of the Psalms and Proverbs give us the choices and the resulting consequences of those choices we make. The Word Of God is so simple! He does not complicate matters for us. We complicate them ourselves by the choices we make.

We see a lot of homeless people on the streets. Why are they homeless? There could be a variety of reasons. But they all stem from the choices that person made in their life: how they spent their money from their jobs, or even if they made the choice to work or not. Some reasons could be the choices the “landlord” made either out of greed, or because of the choices that the renter made.

In other words: every cause has an effect and every effect has an underlying cause. It’s all in the choices we make. All from the choices God gave us the ability to make… whether righteous or wicked.

I hope this has been a help and a blessing to you.