We make choices all our lives. We do
this or we do that; we go here or we go
there; we wear the orange or the blue;
we climb the steps or take the
elevator. We make choices; some of the
correct, some of them incorrect. We
decide this is the way or that is the
way; one of them is right, and one of
them is wrong; one leads to our goal
destination, the other leads us farther
and farther away from our goal.
Choices! This food, that
food; this car, that car; buy this, buy
that! Choices! Which is right; and is
it right all the time; does the
situation ever change?
What are we to do?
What about the choice we are
called upon to make about our soul's
eternal destination? Is there any help
in making the most important, most
vital, most essential choice in our
entire life?
Yes! Yes! A thousand times,
yes!
Most people take a little time
thinking about important choices. The
really big decisions are not made
without careful thought and
consideration. We sometimes plan for
months about our home plans; we
sometimes think for days about our
vehicle; we sometimes consider for years
about our marriage partner.
And all these are big
decisions; but what about the biggest,
most essential, most consequential
decision of all - where we will spend
eternity?
What planning, what thinking,
and what consideration do we put into
that decision?
"For God so loved the world
(For God loved the world so much) that
He gave (that He freely gave) His only
begotten Son (Jesus The Christ), that
whosoever believes (whoever sincerely
takes Him at His word; and believes it
so much that he acts on it) should not
perish (absolutely would not die the
eternal spiritual death) but have
everlasting life (but continue to
possess for all eternity a spiritual
life that never fades, yields, or
dies)." - [John 3:16].
Many people consider that
verse of Scripture as their favorite
verse. They list it when they sign
their name; they use it in their
testimonies; they quote it when they
"need a verse to hang on to".
Several years ago, I sat for
hours in a picnic shelter with a man who
was seeking peace for his soul. He had
read the words off the pages of his
Bible seeking peace. He was considering
studying the oriental religions of the
world to see what peace they offered.
"Is there any peace for my
soul", he asked me.
"Yes, there is", I told him;
and began to quote him John 3:16. He
quoted it with me - he knew the WORDS of
that verse by heart. But, he did not
know the MSSAGE of that verse by heart.
He had never experienced the peace, the
joy, the overwhelming experience of
Christ's Comfort that comes to a person
who accepts Him as personal Savior.
And then, he saw it! He was
quoting it with me for the umpteenth
time; and he saw it - better than that -
he experienced it; and he shouted out,
"For God so loved ME! God loved ME!"
"Yes," I agreed; "and it gets
better and better! He still does!" God
showed that man that He loved him; that
He had chosen him from the foundation of
the world; and he accepted Jesus as
Savior. He chose to become a Christian!
Just this afternoon, I was
sharing the same principle with another
man; and he sat upright in his chair and
exclaimed, "I have made my choice to
accept Jesus!"
It was my joy to inform him
that he had been chosen by God to be a
follower of Jesus Christ; all that was
necessary was for him to receive Him as
Savior - to make that choice.
And he did! He made that
choice!
Choices! Some are piddling,
some are important, some are vital!
What color of shirt to wear is
piddling unless you are going to appear
on television with the President of the
United States - then it becomes more and
more important! But there is no more
important - no more vital - no more
essential choice to make that to receive
Jesus Christ as personal Savior - and
follow Him all the way to His Home -
Heaven!
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Pastor Tom Mooty is the senior
pastor of the West End Baptist
Church in Newpot, TN and provides
pastoral support for the
Just4Ladies.com ministry and her
affiliates. Pastor Tom also writes
a regular weekly column in the
Newport Plain Talk - "Five Minutes
With Tom Mooty"
You can visit
www.webaptist.org to learn more
about Pastor Tom and his church as
well as other books he's written.
