A Call To Decide
By Sonja H. Winburn
(Paul writes) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
2 Timothy 1:8-11
From the beginning, God meant for individual people to decide whether or not they would be obedient to His Word. The very presence of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the choice that God gave Adam and Eve to eat of it speaks to this fact. When Eve, then Adam, failed to obey God’s single command, it effectively brought their separation, and, ultimately, that of mankind through similar choices, from a relationship with our holy God. At that point, God proceeded with His predetermined redemption plan.
Everyone must decide between good and evil, God’s rule or self-rule, godliness or idolatry, faithfulness or faithlessness, Godly wisdom or foolishness, and spiritual life or death! Satan wants people to twist God’s original intentions and accept something just close enough to His law so that they are deceived and believe a lie. Deciding to follow God, choosing to learn and obey His will, puts one on the path to the forgiveness of sin and union with God. And all are invited to participate.
If one chooses to seek wisdom from God, her perceptions of this life will be diametrically opposed to Satan and his devices. One will not view sacrifice, love, faith, truth, trials, death, life, obedience, or hope in the same way as one who has chosen foolishness. Those who seek wisdom have seeing eyes and hearing ears that are open to God’s truth. They work off the unseen rather than the seen, off faith and not sight. These choices and their residual effects will show up in the fruits of each person’s thoughts and actions. As partakers in the divine nature, we are a transformed, set apart, peculiar people, a holy nation, a house not made with hands fighting a war against the unfruitful works of darkness.
When people choose to seek God’s truth, they cease to manipulate their circumstances, attitudes, and behaviors for their own self-serving relief. They stop whitewashing their actions to make themselves look like they are motivated by spiritual truth when their actions are born out of their desires or fear. They become new creatures with new hearts and make choices that build on a solid foundation.
Because all those who find truth must learn it from God as revealed in the written word, no one gets to God’s will without study or missteps. Unchecked, our mistakes can put us in conflict with God’s design and direction and God Himself. The relationship needs reconciliation. A person will have to be realigned with holiness by the means which God provides. But each man and woman must accept the invitation to take advantage of the saving sacrifice the Lamb of God offers. Christ came for the specific purpose of paying the price for redemption, and it is available to anyone willing to take advantage of it. We show our willingness to participate in the death of Christ when we enter the watery grave of baptism.
From that day forward, we are considered part of the bride of Christ. We are joined and united into a justified relationship with a loving Father. This reunion is made possible by the predetermined sacrifice of His Son, designed for man to resume the inexplicable privilege of walking with God in somewhat the same relationship that Adam and Eve enjoyed before the fall.
God is a faithful Father, and Christ a loyal Husband, and the call goes out to each man and woman through the words of the Holy Spirit. It is up to us to decide if we will answer the gospel’s invitation to be in a reconciled relationship. All has been prepared and revealed, and Christ has paid the price for God to offer righteousness. The war with Satan is won, and the plan is fulfilled in Christ. Satan is defeated and only has the power we allow him to have in our life.
There are still battles of the mind to fight. But you must choose to accept the winning side and obey God’s directions today and each day after. The sacrifice continues to pay the price for any targets you miss along the way. Be of good courage! You can choose to overcome the world and participate in eternal and everlasting life with God.