Every day of our life, while our body and mind is functional, we make many decisions and choices. Some can be simple, such as when to eat, when to put on clothes, and when to sleep. Then there are choices that when made, have significant consequences, such as; what time shall I leave to go to work, do I need gas in my car, what time does the bus come by? If these kinds of decisions are made with no consideration, the result may be, one late to work, another who runs out of gas, and another who misses the bus. There are other decisions that are more difficult, such as; making disciplinary decisions for a child, whether or not to buy a house or deciding on a type of medical care or treatment.

Our life is full of making choices and decisions and all carry consequences that may or may not be significant. Some of these consequences may be short term, like becoming hungry because you decided to skip breakfast. Or they could be long term, like having mortgage payments for thirty years because you chose to buy a house. Then there are consequences that sometimes arise out of gut decisions that turn out bad or good, such as trusting a salesman when you don't know if he is lying or telling the truth. In short, making choices in everyday life, sometimes can be very easy to very difficult resulting in inevitable consequences.

Let me now draw your attention to another area of decision making. Making decisions concerning life and death.

As a rule among men, it is considered that to live is more desirable than to die. How ironic life can be, when a person so desires and expects to live and yet we all go to the grave. In contrast Paul the apostle said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain," Philippians 1:21. In having this kind of attitude, Paul had made certain choices concerning life and death. In Hebrews 9:27 the writer by inspiration said, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die,. . ." The fact that we are all going to die is inescapable.

As time goes by and we witness that the living die, we must realize the futility and vanity of life on earth. The thoughtful person should then ask, "What is the purpose?" Then begin to seek out that very answer. Realize that the opportunity to make the wisest decisions in life are knocking right at your door. Only by a courageous and honest heart will you pursue an answer. An answer coming from the highest and most reasonable source, the Bible. Needless to say, there are some that cannot look death in the face. We may all be guilty of this. Some don't even want to think about it. For their hope in life ends at the grave. Their choice to turn away from pursuing an answer is their decision. Only the courageous will choose to search for those things beyond the grave.

As one begins his search, he finds himself in an area called "faith." The bible teaches that faith comes by God's word, Romans 10:17. "Is there life after death," one might ask? The bible teaches that there is life after death, Matthew 22:31&32. The belief that God exists supports this. The bible teaches that God is from everlasting to everlasting, Psalm 90:2. The bible teaches that man was made or created in His image, "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him," Genesis 1:26&27. God's image or likeness is not physical, but spiritual, "God is spirit," John 4:24. Therefore, the part of man that is like God is spiritual. The spirit part of man will continue to exist even after the death of the body, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it," Ecclesiastes 12:7. Where a man goes after the death of the body, is the destiny that is in the power of the man to decide. Of all the decisions a man can make, there is none that is as important as the one that determines his fate.

In dealing with the subject of faith of a life hereafter, we understand by faith the serious consequences of neglecting or by decision, rejecting the provision that God has freely provided us. God is the giver of life. God provides a hope of an eternal life in Jesus Christ, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 6:23. Make the decision to be with Christ in heaven, and you will have made the wisest decision a man can make. Reject Jesus Christ and you will have made the foolish of all decisions. For your consequence will be eternal damnation, "And these will go away into eternal punishment," Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. A man once said to me that because of this, God does not give man a choice. The man said that eternal damnation is not a choice. But this man is mistaken. The choices are (1) believe and obey Jesus and be saved or (2) disbelieve Jesus and be condemned, Mark 16:16. When a man rejects Jesus, he makes his choice. There is no middle ground. You are either going to be on one side or the other. Which will it be? God desires all to be saved and none to perish, 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4.

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Joshua 24:15.