The Impact of Our Choices

Back when I was in school, I hated pop quizzes because I was never prepared. Instead, I liked the open-book tests where I could actually find the answers.

God effectively gives an open-book test to all of us. In Deuteronomy 30:19 He said, “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!” (NLT).

Our choices not only affect us but our children—and potentially our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren. Ungodly decisions can impact a family for generations. Godly decisions can impact a family for generations as well.

Every day we are faced with every kind of choice imaginable, such as what we will eat, what we will wear, what route we’ll take when we’re driving somewhere, what emails and texts we’ll send, and how we’ll respond to those emails and texts. All kinds of choices run through our minds.

In fact, we all will face the three Cs of life: challenges, choices, and consequences. Those challenges may come as opportunities or as temptations. The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn, because choices are important.

We see this in the lives of two believers: Abraham and Lot. Abraham, for the most part, made the right choices in life. Lot, on the other hand, made a series of wrong choices that he lived to regret.

Our choices do matter. God will show us the choice to make, but it is still up to us to act on that choice. We cast the deciding vote by what we do. We make our choices, and our choices will make us.