Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

Every choice you make has an end result.

~ Zig Ziglar

Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Many of our troubles occur because we base our choices on unreliable authorities:

Culture ("everyone is doing it")

Tradition ("we've always done it")

Reason ("it seems logical")

Emotion ("it just felt right")

John 14:6

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

It is not enough to ask yourself, "Does God's Word permit me to use these good things of the world?" You must also inquire, "Will it serve the glory of God?" and, "Will it edify my fellow Christians?"

~ Walter J. Chantry

Here are a few choices we see in the scriptures that did not go so well:

The first, and most famous is in Genesis 3

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Or how about....

· When Lot’s wife turned back to look at Sodom.

· When Samson hooked up with Delilah.

· When Moses decided to listen to the 10 spies who were afraid instead of the 2 who weren’t.

· When Jonah decided to run.

· When David committed adultery and murder.

· When Peter denied Jesus.

Luke 23:32-43 (New Living Translation)

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

(Here is the first ending)

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

(Here is the alternate ending)

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What kind of ending are you writing for your story?

Will it end in death and cursings?

OR

Will it be full of Life and Blessings?