Choose Wisely

By Ron Thomas   They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them (Proverbs 28:4, ASV).       How can this be? Consider the “law” in view is the law of God. As James wrote, but he that looketh into the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing. (James 1:25). Since the “law” is of God, those who obey Him will, necessarily, praise His name by the life they choose to live. Those who choose some other way to live, necessarily, praise the wicked. How can this be?     Those who choose to live without God give praise to the wicked by living life that does not have its foundation in the Almighty, in God’s teachings. With this choice in life made, they have considered God and have chosen to turn away from Him. What this amounts to, perhaps unbeknownst to those who have done so, is that they have chosen to believe God is a liar concerning that which is best in life. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son (1 John 5:10, ESV).     They also begin to support those who have also turned away from the Lord. When one wanders away from the Lord, to whom shall they go? They go to the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4.4). In truth, there are only two paths in life for people to take. As each comes to the proverbial “fork in the road,” they must choose which path to take. If they have not rejected Jesus outright, but have chosen something else, intending on coming back to Jesus (many actually think like this), they have made their choice. It will do no good to say “I am only putting it off for a while, in order for me to get my life straight” because by putting Jesus off for another day means one has made a choice today – and it is not Jesus.     Making a choice for what is wise is easy to do (at least in theory), but it is hard to do because many things may have to be given up. What do you value more? choose wisely.

- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com