You Get to Choose

Last Sunday, Steve presented a two-part lesson on two of the characteristics of God: His goodness and His severity.  Steve’s lessons reminded me of something Christy and I would tell our children as we parented them through the years, which is, “You get to choose your parent.”  This did not mean that they controlled who we were.  It meant that they knew what kind of response and/or consequence they would receive based on their choices and attitudes.  If their choices and attitudes were obedient and respectful they would “choose” one parent.  If their choices and attitudes were disobedient and disrespectful, they would “choose” another parent.  The point is that by their choices and attitudes, they get to choose the outcome.

The concept of getting to choose puts the responsibility of the outcome on the individual.  Obedience and respect bring about one outcome while disobedience and disrespect bring another.  It is similar in our relationship with God.  Romans 2:6-8 tells us, “(God) Who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.”

These verses are both encouraging and terrifying at the same time.  Much like our children got to choose their outcome by their behaviors, we as Christians have the ability to choose our eternal outcome, it is not something that will just happen to us or come as a surprise to us.  The verses in Romans 2 tell us that God will render to each of us according to our deeds.  As Steve pointed out in his lessons, God’s goodness leads Him to be patient, long-suffering, and willing to forgive (2 Pet. 3:9, Isaiah 55:7).  At the same time, God’s severity will result in vengeance and wrath on the unfaithful (Heb. 10:30, Rom. 2:8).  The good news is that we get to choose what we will receive!  We can choose unrighteous living and receive the severity of God, or we can choose righteous living and receive the goodness of God.  Let us all be mindful every day of the decisions we make.  The choice is ours!