Jesus Gives Us a Choice

Christmas shopping has never been my favorite thing. As I wandered through the mall, I saw so many stores, so many options, but still I could not find what I wanted. So instead I returned home, and as so many of us do now, and I searched Amazon for exactly what I wanted. Of course, I found it, in several sizes and colors. 

Today we have so many options, a vast selection of goods and services. They are all available at our fingertips and will be delivered before the end of the week to our doorstep.

This masks the reality of eternity. In eternity, there are only two options. Good or evil. In the first eight chapters of Revelation we have seen what good looks like. Here we see evil.

I saw a star (angelic being) that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit (abyss) was given to him (the star-angel). He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke like the smoke of a great furnace flowed out of the pit; and the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power [to hurt] was given to them, like the power which the earth’s scorpions have. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but [to hurt] only the people who do not have the seal (mark of ownership, protection) of God on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment and cause them extreme pain. (Revelation 9:1-5 AMP) 

I think following my heart's desire is good. But in reality, straying from God's will is not good. It is the opposite of good. It is evil. And evil's intent is to hurt me. It may promise pleasure but the pleasure leads to intense pain. We will in the end, long for release, but it will not let us go. 

This here, in a metaphysical sense, describes all addictions: to drugs, to sex, to gambling, to power, but also to shopping, to food, to gossip, to pleasing other people. It is killing us, but it is so hard to stop. 

However, God is in control. He limits the power of evil to hurt us. He will mark His servants for protection. In the end, He continues to invite us to reach out to Him. He can save us. How will we respond to Him?

They did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries (drugs, intoxications) nor of their [sexual] immorality nor of their thefts (Revelation 9:21).

We want what we want. We love our sin too much. We don't want to let it go.

There are only two options. God's peace or Satan's torment. We will chose our master. Do not be deceived. To not choose is to choose torment. 

Will you choose God?

Beloved, You remind me of my choice here. It is one I choose day by day, moment by moment. By the power of Your Holy Spirit in me, help me choose You. Help me to come to You with each desire. Strengthen my self control to recognize the choices and choose You. You alone are our Peace.