We Have a Choice

Life is full of choices. They can be as simple as what we are having for lunch or as difficult as whom we should marry or what job we should take. Each choice we make reveals something about us. When it comes to our decision for where to go to lunch, it reveals the type of food we like, or what types of restaurants we enjoy. One of my favorite places for lunch is a small restaurant in downtown Columbia called “The No Name Deli”. Their prime rib sub is probably one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. The choice I make to have a prime rib sub with fries reveals that I am not real concerned about my diet.

When it comes to more important things in life, not that my health is not important, our choices reveal our priorities, our attitude, our convictions and our character. Our choices reveal what we love.

1 John 2:15-17 asks what do we love? The scripture tells us we have a choice between loving the world and the things of the world or loving God. There is no middle ground, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” What is there to love about this world? Verse 16 gives us three foundational pieces to which all love for this world is found. Desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.

The desires of the flesh would include gluttony (food), alcohol, drugs, lust/sex, and anything that our bodies would crave.

The desires of the eyes would include things which we see that we believe we must have. Seeing something someone else has that we believe we must have. It can be their car, house, or even their spouse. Our eyes can make us jealous and envious so that we are never satisfied with the life we have been given.

The pride of life leads us to a place where we only think of ourselves. The central focus on pride is me and my belief that I can do this life on my own without God’s help. Pride leads to selfishness, arrogance and contempt to anyone who doesn’t think the same as you.

You might be saying that you don’t love these things or that you do not choose them every day. The scripture uses the word “loves” as a description that can be understood as a passion, a longing, even a craving. As one who is a follower of Christ, one who loves God, you have left that passion behind. Not saying that you are not tempted and fall to these things at times, but when you do it is followed by a conviction by the Holy Spirit to reveal the sin we have fallen to. Your passions and your love are for God and you desire to do His will. What is the difference? Your love for God.

Where do your passions lie? For God or the desires and passions of this world? It cannot be both.

How do you resist and turn from the things of the world? Love the Father. Make choices that you know would be pleasing to Him. Turn and run from the desires of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life. Why? Because they are passing away. The thrill, the high, the buzz, or the moment of happiness that you think they might bring will fade very fast. 1 John 1:4 talks about believers sharing the eternal, hope filled message of Christ with others so that their joy might be complete. They knew the joy of being a believer in Christ, a child of God. A joy that is eternal. A joy that gives more satisfaction than anything this world can offer.

When was the last time you evaluated your choices?

Have you taken time to ask the question, “What does my choice say about who I am or what I love?”