Several years ago, I taught a series in Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life with some of the men at our church. It is a challenging study that forces us to consider the “big” questions about our existence like, “Why are we here?” and “What will we do today in light of eternity?” Warren writes, “Death is not your termination, but your transition into eternity, so there are eternal consequences to everything you do on earth. Every act of our lives strikes a chord that will vibrate in eternity.” Simply put, the daily choices we make have eternal implications–even the small, unseen choices we make. Contrary to popular thought, the Bible teaches us that our choices do not exist in a vacuum where the “little/unseen” choices don’t matter: “For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light,” (Luke 8:17). Our choices, big and small, matter! We are either building God’s eternal Kingdom or our own temporal kingdoms that are destined to perish with us.
These are sobering words, because they speak of God’s high standard for our lives, as well as, our the accountability we have to Him. I have heard it said that the Christian life is not difficult–it is impossible! One of the blessings of clearly understanding God’s high standard for our lives is that it drives us to despair, and despair leads us to dependency. Dependency upon Christ is where God invites us to live—there is simply no other way!! I am often reminded of Hebrews 4:16 which states, “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.” Our choices matter; may we draw upon His infinite grace, strength, and wisdom to make choices that honor Him!