"Choices, Choices, Choices!"

  We live in a time of choices. The more choices that there are the more things become complicated. Just go to a grocery store and look at the choices. Multitudes of items for one product. You read, look and look some more just to make a simple choice. You go to an electronics store to search for a new product and what do you find? Multitudes of choices! It even comes down to something as simple as buying a pair of jeans. Slim fit, easy fit, relaxed fit, button fly, zipper fly, stone washed, acid washed, distressed, boot cut and tapered. What has happened to "the only kind"?

  But there is more. Because of our modern technology we can work every hour of the day from almost anywhere on this planet and we face the choice of how to do that. The choice of i-pads, tablets, laptops and phones and whatever else you want to choose that is offered. Choose your hours.

  Where has all this taken us? Choices can be good on some things but there are so many it is affecting the very core and fiber of our lives. You hear people speak, "I wish I had made a better choice of a mate." Our youth aren't being trained but make choices based on whatever is offered that appeals. People seem to pick and choose what best fits them and that can lead to disastrous results. With so many choices in everyday life some find it difficult to choose anything at all. The devil is doing a good job at complicating our lives. We come to religion. Look at the choices. There is something offered for whatever a person is looking for to fit their situation in life. There are so many flavors offered, the choice can be difficult. People come to worship looking for something to offer their children, something that agrees with what they agree with, some special songs played by the gifted they might want to be a part of or something that is entertaining and fun. There seems to be little taught or sought about worship "in spirit and truth."

   We turn to God and He calls us to make a choice: Him and His truth! God "uncomplicates" everything. One direction with one purpose. Jesus pointed to God and His truth. The apostles pointed to God and His truth. The inspired writers of the Holy Scripture point to God and His truth. One direction. Seeking God on God's terms not God on our terms. There are many so-called gods among us but there is only One true and living God and He has revealed Himself through the truth of His word. Paul reminded the Ephesian brethren: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph. 4:4-6) One choice and only one choice in each matter of faith. These seven ones are the very basis of God and anyone who moves from these 7 ones is not part of the truth. Any of these ones that is left out is not part of God! Choose two baptisms and you have strayed from the truth. Choose many faiths and you have wandered from the Lord. Our choices become much easier when we realize this. We are called to seek the things above where Christ is seated and set our minds on things above not on the earth (Col. 3:1-3). That simplifies every thing. One direction, one choice. To set our minds and seek the truth of the Lord brings His favor to helping us find the standard of truth. Joshua's words rang out in the ears of those people listening and should ring in ours: "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)