Oh decisions… we are plagued with them throughout our lives, at some points more than others, and today, especially in our society, there is so much pressure to make the right ones; to be perfect; to chose and not look back. I talked about one particular choice with which I was struggling with a friend of mine and she recommended the sermon ‘Don’t Waste Your Life’ by John Piper [listen to it if you never have, it’s quite compelling, and very pertinent to the younger Christian]
Upon listening to the sermon, I couldn’t help but reflect upon the choice I had to make, and I realized how little of a part God was playing in this decision. I had pushed him away so that I could try to figure out what it was that I truly wanted, what was best for me [as though that’s not what God wants], and in doing so, I had prevented God from interfering and carrying out his perfect plan for me. The reason? I was foolish enough to believe that I was in control, and it was me alone who should really be in control of my life.
What is it that keeps us? What is it that keeps us from going to God, to handing our everything over to him? I believe that it is pride. We can’t stand to believe that there is a greater power over us, dictating our every move, who is able to change our hearts, our minds and our decisions. We would like to believe that we are our own people and have no influences. And when we hear that God holds this power over us, that God can change our hearts, our minds and our decisions, we say no. No, that’s not how it’s going to be. And we rebel. We go against all that we are supposed to do in God, just to say no. Just to say that we still are the people with power; the people in power, and we chose easy over right, we pick our pride over submission, and we condemn ourselves to hell; all that just to say ‘yes, I do have free will’. And to do all that, to waste our souls and our lives for eternity, just to say what we already know. Yes. I do have free will.
