Choose

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" - Ephesians 2:8


Imagine a present sitting in front of you, wrapped up with a bright red bow, just waiting to be opened.  You're excited to open it, because you know that it contains all the joy and happiness you could ever imagine, lasting for eternity.  Yet you hesitate, because you know that if you choose to open this package, you risk temporary pain and suffering, ridicule, loneliness, possibly even death.  There is no promise of an easy life here and now, only a promise of a joyful life now and forever.

You also know that if you don't choose to open the present, things might be easier now.  You may have fewer concerns and a greater sense of freedom to do whatever you want in the here and now.  Yet the long term consequences will be devastating:  death, loneliness, pain, and suffering for all eternity.

So what do you do?  Do you open the gift or not?  I can tell you what Joshua, the man who led the Israelites into the promised land after Moses passed away, chose.  He said, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" in Joshua 24:15.

Faith isn't always easy, but it is free, at least for us.

As you reach forward to unwrap the gift, you notice that the red ribbon is drenched in blood, the blood of Christ, who died for you so that you could open this gift of faith and grace at all.  You're still nervous as you open this gift.  You aren't without your doubts.  But you know that with the help of Christ and your fellow believers, you can continue to accept this gift every day for the rest of your life.  You can stand with the author of Philippians and say, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:12-13)

You have made your choice.  You have responded to options offered by God going back thousands of years:  "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live."  (Deuteronomy 30:19)  And, with the Holy Spirit's help, you have chosen life.

Inspired by the sermon delivered by St. Mark Lutheran Church's pastor Kevin Lentz, 9/4/2016