Decisions
February 4, 2001
Dear Friends:
Life is full of decisions. We make them every day. Some are important with lasting consequences – who we will marry, where we will live – while others are relatively unimportant – like what we will have for dinner. Yet, no decision in this life is more important than whether or not we believe the Gospel. Although we live with the consequences for a long time of the more important decisions in life, whether or not we believe the Gospel is the only eternal decision. The Bible tells us plainly enough that “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.”
Unfortunately for many in this world, the decision to accept or reject this Gospel receives the same attention as many of the small decisions in life; which is to say very little attention at all. It is one of life’s great tragedies that many spend more time deciding what car they will drive than whether or not they believe Jesus Christ is the son of God.
What does God want from us? We call it by many terms. Belief. Faith. Conviction. But let us be clear on this – there is no such thing as an unbelieving believer. It is not mere intellectual agreement that God requires, but a firm conviction in the one saving Gospel. It is a life changing conviction. It is based on truth.
Now if we are one of those blessed enough to have the gospel message preached to us, it is a matter of life or death how we respond. It might not be considered politically correct to speak in such terms, but the Bible is very clear in the distinction between those who accept and those who reject the Gospel. The Bible speaks of sinners and saints, believers and the world, sheep and goats and those saved and those condemned. There is no in between. There is no room for indecision. To not make a decision is to make a decision.
The Bible speaks of true believers as doers of the word. There belief compels them to action. Jesus tells his disciples that “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do.” Paul pleads with the disciples by “urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
This week’s thought has a very personal message. For those who do not think they understand the Gospel message, please make it your goal to seek it out. For those who understand the Gospel, but have not become convicted that Jesus Christ is the messiah, make it your goal to believe and be baptized into the saving name of Jesus Christ. For those who have committed themselves to Christ in baptism but have fallen away through unbelief, repent and come again to the water which gives life. And finally, to those who believe, do not hide your light under a bushel.. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Have a blessed week!
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