Choose Ye This Day

The choice that the prophet Elijah placed before Israel, of serving either Jehovah or Baal, was one that at some time was equally placed before each one of us. This, however, was not the end of all decision; it was only the beginning. Day after day some new choice has to be made on the basis of that former decision, a choice that is just as plainly between right and wrong, and one that is just as important.

The challenge that comes today to everyone is, “Have you made up your mind?” In the face of clearly revealed truth, we still say to ourselves, “I will not decide now,” and by some strange infatuation of mind we deceive ourselves into thinking that we have not made a decision, when we most definitely have already done so. By our very procrastination we have decided and we have rejected. Let us make no mistake about it, the passive drift of indecision that defers and delays is rejection. On this basis may we very seriously ask ourselves the question, “Where do I stand today? Am I refusing Him that speaks from Heaven?”

We must be definite and positive in our decision where known truth is concerned. Every crisis that needs decision must be firmly faced, and if we neglect to face it, we have already decided…in the negative. To the commands of God, and our own conscience, we either yield obedience or we must assume the solemn responsibility of refusal. There is no middle course. The habit of refusing to be deliberate and definite results in hopeless injury to the character; it sears the conscience and makes the intellect confused and useless.

We may postpone and evade many issues in the Christian life, but we do so every time at great danger to our present peace of mind and most certainly to the detriment of the future success of our eternal welfare. There is a very clear and distinct line of separation between the flesh and the Spirit, between the old self-seeking existence and the new self-sacrificing life. Are we going to settle with conviction, once and for all, the question that is demanding an answer from us today? As we have said, this will not be the end of all our problems, for others will surely follow: but to come face to face with the claims of Christ today will steady and strengthen us for the trials of tomorrow, and we shall go on from strength to strength towards the final victory of the overcomer.

We have referred to our attitude to those truths that we know, but what about the things of which we are uncertain? How can we be definite or decisive when we do not know what to think? It is true that there are some matters about which we have to keep an open mind. Nevertheless, how often we are perfectly content to vacillate between two opinions without making the least effort to finalize our own judgment on the subject. Are we so utterly dependent upon the intellect of others that we cannot think for ourselves?

We claim as Christians to be led by the Spirit and guided into all truth. We are individually responsible for what we believe and for how we walk, in the light of all our possibilities. We will not be excused for our ignorance when we made no effort and might have known, nor for our failure to do something when we never made any attempt to do it. Let us seek earnestly to make decisions even in those things not yet understood. It is better to risk a wrong opinion providing we are willing honestly to change it again, than to sit on the fence uncommitted and unhelpful to one, and all. We all make mistakes, but the worst possible mistake is to evade responsibility in knowing and doing the will of God. In the words of Joshua we say,

“Choose you this day whom you will serve.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”

(Joshua 24:15).

Bible Student Magazine

The Things Eternal

Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor can a mortal mind

E’er grasp the glories far beyond the realm of all mankind.

We look about us, day by day, beholding God’s great power

The miracle of new-born things; the fragrance of a flower.

Yes, we behold it’s beauty rare as in our hand it lies

For one brief moment, then ‘tis gone, it fades before our eyes.

Just temporary earthly things, but our faith cries for more,

Those wonderful eternal things God has for us in store.

So seek ye first the heavenly things which never pass away,

That you may see Him, face to face, in realms of endless day.

Alex Charcharos