One Choice Can Change Your Life Forever
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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As young people, we seem to think that we are invincible. We think that we are somehow immune to the consequences of the risks we take or the choices we make, but the truth is- one choice can change your life forever.
Last week in my hometown of Timmins, an eighteen year old distributed pills to an 19 year old and a 17 year old, who probably both thought they would live forever. Those pills contained so much morphine that they killed both teens and the third is now in jail facing two counts of manslaughter. One choice can change your life forever.
A young girl attends a party and leaves her drink unattended for only a minute. She consumes the date-rape drug and is now a single mother raising a baby. One choice can change your life forever.
A seventeen year-old who just gets his license shows off to his friends by speeding down the highway. His car hits ice and he spins out of control and into a hydro poll. Two of his friends die and he now spends his days in a wheelchair. One choice can change your life forever.
The tragic thing about the stories that I have shared with you is that in each case, I'm sure that when the choice was made, the consequences never crossed the person's mind. Let's face it, when we choose to speed down the highway, we don't think that anything is going to happen to us or when we attend a party, we don't necessary expect to be parents nine months later. Unfortunately, whether we consider the consequences or not, every choice we make has consequences- sometimes they are good and othertimes they are tragic.
I often hear the question asked "why is the Bible filled with a bunch of thou shall not's?" and the answer to this question is a simple one. It's called the love of God. God knows that one choice can change our life forever, He's seen it happen over and over again throughout history. To prevent us from finding ourselves facing those consequences, He made some guidelines. Some would say that what it is in the Bible is out-dated and is not relevant to today, but I would have to disagree with those people. Consequences are consequences and they don't change just because the times do.
In the Bible, Solomon- who is the wisest person to ever live gives this advice: "Young man, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do." (Ecclesiastes 11:9)
You see, God doesn't want us wasting our youth doing boring things, He wants us to enjoy life, but at the same time He wants us to be careful and do things in His way. That doesn't mean we can't drive a car or do extreme sports or hang out with friends. It means that we should have fun, but make sure that the fun falls into God's guidelines if we want to live free from consequences.
In the book of Deuteronomy (30:19-20) God says to the nation of Israel and he says to each and everyone of us: "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendents might live! Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life."
Everyday you face choices. You can choose life, which is found in God, or you can choose to take your chances with consequences that lead to death. Oh, that you would choose life!
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.