Wagner Our lives are full of choices. Some choices have short-term impact; our attire for the day, what breakfast cereal we eat, etc. Other choices have longterm impact which can last days or years; job choice, home buying and etc. There are other choices that can impact us for our whole lives; marriage, divorce, alcoholism, drug use, etc. Some of these choices only involve us and other choices have results that affect others, sometimes good and sometimes bad.

The fact is, we all make some good choices and some bad choices and we have to live with the consequences either way. The affect most of these choices will have on our lives will end with our death, at least as far as we are concerned.

However, there is one choice that each of us must make that will have consequences for eternity. This choice is whether we choose to come to Jesus Christ or not. God has given each of us a free will. He does not force us to accept Christ. He only leads us to the point of choosing. The rest is up to us. Many people come to that point in their life and refuse Christ to the loss of eternal life. There are those who intend to come to Christ but say “later” or “”when I get everything done I want to do” or when I get ready to die.”

If you are one of these people, please realize that you are not promised “later.” You are only promised “now” and the choice you make for or against Christ may be your last choice. “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

If you make the wrong choice and you die, you will never have another opportunity to choose. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.

Are you one of those who think they can make the choice to come to Christ any time you want to? Jesus said “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44.

It takes the Holy Spirit to bring a person to Christ and without Him there is no eternal life for you. Maybe the Holy Spirit is speaking to you now and you are refusing His call. Be thankful that God is still calling you because if you keep refusing Him He may withdraw that call and the choice you make could seal your eternity. God may not always call you. “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Genesis 6:3.

Are you at a crossroads in your life today? Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to come to Christ? In 1971 I came to that crossroads in my life. Alcohol, pornography, sex, and many other things had almost destroyed my life. I was only 22 years old and I came to a point when I had to choose life or death. I firmly believe that if I had not come to Christ then I would not have lived very long. In September 1971 I chose life and have not been the same since. My life has had many ups and downs since then but the choice I made then has been one I have never regretted. Are you ready to make the right choice today? “I call to heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both thee and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19.

John Wagner is the pastor at Pittsburg Missionary Baptist Church.