Choices
By Caron Cline
Burke County
On February 19th, our nation will once again celebrate President’s Day. I recently finished an interesting book on the life of John F. Kennedy and although this federal holiday focuses on George Washington, it is also a day to remember and honor all who served as President of the United States.
One chapter of the book on Kennedy’s life focused solely on November 22, 1963, the day that JFK was assassinated. The week preceding the visit to Dallas, TX, was filled with many of Kennedy’s closest advisors warning him of the possible dangers of the trip. The city of Dallas was known for its violence at the time, and many feared that President Kennedy’s popularity in Texas was very low. A most solemn warning against making the trip was delivered by none other than Billy Graham. Unfortunately, JFK ignored the concerns of every one of these advisors and moved forward with the trip.
Proverbs 11:14 says: ‘Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory’.
Many counselors offered a consistent message to the President, yet pride prevented him from listening. What if the President had heeded those continual warnings? How might history have been changed? We will never know the answer to these questions. Sadly, JFK made a foolish, fatal choice and was shot just hours after arriving in Dallas.
The definition of the word ‘choice’, is ‘an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.’ God created mankind with the ability to think, reason, and choose.
In Deuteronomy 30:19, shortly before his death, Moses challenged the children of Israel: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So, choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” God’s Word defines the choices that will either result in blessings or curses, and we would be wise to mine the depths of His Word, and search out and obey those things that will result in a blessed life.
The God of the Universe will never force Himself on anyone, yet He longs to be gracious to all. He is a Shepherd King, providing mankind’s deepest spiritual needs for rest, peace, restoration, guidance, and cleansing. Our Shepherd sustains us even in the presence of our enemies and anoints our heads with the oil of gladness. He promises goodness and mercy all the days of our lives and the honor of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23) These are only a few of the incredible blessings promised to those who choose Christ Jesus, Who is the Resurrection and the Life. May we have the spirit of Joshua, who declared his allegiance and choice of Jehovah God over every other god: ‘If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’. (Joshua 24:15) Choosing to serve the Lord will result in a life of blessings, peace, power, and victory!
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Caron is a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, NC. She loves to teach the word of God.
Her desire is to see every believer grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
You can read more Christian News from Caron HERE.
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