We do it to ourselves, you realize this, don’t you? If we allow something to come into our lives, we are the responsible party, whether it be in the action of sin or in the glorifying of the Lord, every choice we make is made by our own free will.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1st Cor. 10:31)
But we do not.
I read of a sister in Christ, imprisoned for her faith, unswerving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who was told that if she did not put her hands through the bars of the jail cell so her tormentor could pummel them with an iron rod, he would open that cell and use that rod on her entire body.
She had a choice.
I have read accounts, many of them, of those who have gone on to glory before us who suffered atrocities beyond what man should inflict on his fellow man, and those did not recant their faith in their Savior but knew a pain of the flesh that most of us will never realize.
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2nd Tim. 2:12)
I do not know what choices you make in this life, that is one of those rare instances that the truth of “that’s between me and God” stands, but I do know that every choice you make has consequences, no matter how insignificant that choice may seem to be to you in that moment.
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matt. 12:36)
The life of one who has been crucified with Christ is not meant to be walked on a smooth path, it is to be contemplated continuously, with every step, every breath, every thought. Will this assist me in becoming more profitable to the Kingdom of the eternal Living God, or cause me to sin? If you are considering those mundane, repetitive tasks that are set before each of us nearly every waking moment, then consider this, when does our adversary attack us most frequently, when we are watchful and aware, or when we are not looking for him?
Liars sneak around the truth, words whispered are just as powerful as those yelled from the rooftop. A mind not fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ has no place left to go but into the world, to self.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2nd Cor. 10:5)
If your thoughts revolve around the Scriptures, they lead you to contemplate the Almighty, His Word that you have hid in your heart will lead you to seek His face even more. If your thoughts wander, then they are wandering away from Him.
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” (Matt. 6:22)
If you want to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, you cannot contemplate the world and the path it is on, you must bypass the temporal and ponder the eternal, not with vain imaginations, but from the truths of the Word of God. This is your choice, this is free will, this is what you will give an account of, and will be rewarded for or lose those rewards. Your actions, words, deeds and thoughts will be revealed to you, you will see yourself as you truly were.
Do not make the mistake of focusing on the bad here, far too many do that and fall into the trap of continuous regret, but do not lift yourself up in your eyes either, pride will find a place to grow in your heart. Accept the will of the Lord in your life, give Him the praise due Him for choosing you, ask Him to lead you to make the proper and right choices, to guard your heart for you, to help you to walk humbly with Him.
The path may not become smoother, in fact, the opposite may happen, but rest assured in this truth my friends, it will become much clearer to you.
