LIVING AN EARTHLY LIFE,
BUT MAKING HEAVENLY DECISIONS

 

Life is filled with daily decisions. Some decisions have little or no consequences. We make decisions like what kind of tooth paste to use or what kind of bread to buy? Other decisions are eternal in nature. Good spiritual decisions improve our earthly life and move us toward heaven. Bad spiritual decisions bring much misery here and damnation hereafter. As Christians our decisions are made based upon the faith that we have in Jesus Christ. We make our decisions based on who we love most; ourselves or God?

 

Some decisions are easy. Is it a sin to murder? Should Christians steal or cheat? Is it acceptable for God's people to lie? Other decisions are more difficult. There are, however several Bible thoughts that will help us in the decision making process.

 

Will this decision bring glory to God? The psalmist prayed, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14) My decision must be that my mouth will speak nothing but things that are true, kind, and beneficial. My heart must meditate on nothing but things that are holy, pure, and virtuous. We make many decisions in life but we must first ask will this decision glorify God? Paul wrote, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) In all our decisions and plans for life let all that we do be done to the glory of God. Let us make spiritual and godly decisions so that we can say with Jesus, "I have glorified thee on the earth." (John 17:4)

 

Will this decision help me to grow spiritually?  "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." (Psalm 92:12) The nature of this tree is that it is always green and yielding a sweet smell. We must grow nearer heaven with each decision that we make. With a holy ambition we must make decisions that prove our desire for that upper world. What about my decision? Will doing these things improve my spiritual life? Will it encourage godliness? Will it build me up spiritually? "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

 

Will this decision do anything to defile my body? Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. Paul wrote, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Our soul and our body must be used in the service of our Maker. Paul wrote, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Romans 6:13) We must serve God with our head, our heart, our hands, our feet and our entire body. God expects us to be holy inside and out. The decisions you make as to how to use your body should always reflect your desire to honor Jesus Christ.

 

Will this decision bring me into some form of slavery? Someone smokes that first cigarette or takes that first dip and soon they are a slave to tobacco. Many are slaves to gambling and the thrill it brings to them. There are all kinds of chemical addictions that take control of individuals. Others are slaves to over eating, too much Television or too many computer games. Still others find themselves addicted to fornication, homosexuality or other sexual sins. Paul said, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." (1 Corinthians 6:12) One translation has it, "but for my part, I will not let myself be enslaved by anything." If what you are considering can be a destructive habit, why pursue it? You are to be a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid now ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:11-16)

 

Will this decision help the cause of Christ to grow? The decisions that you make in your life will largely determine whether you will be a soul winner or not. Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) The world is watching you. What do your decisions say about your faith in God? We must be careful not to give any unconverted person a reason to be prejudice against Christianity. Your life should reflect your concern for a lost world. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Godly decisions open the door for powerful evangelist work. Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:15-16)

 

Will this decision violate my conscience? Once I have said or done this will I fell miserable, unhappy and guilty? A clean conscience is of great value. Your relationship with God can never be right as long as you are violating your conscience. Paul wrote, "He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23) If you are considering doing something and it bothers your conscience then you should avoid doing, saying or thinking that thing. "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." (1 John 3:20) We cannot expect to have peace in life if we are doing things that violate our conscience. Christians must live so that their hearts will not condemn them for any secret sin. God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

 

Will this decision help me fulfill my purpose for being on earth? You must ask yourself, Will this decision please God and fulfill His purposes for my life? We read in 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." Our ultimate purpose for being on earth is to go to heaven and to encourage others to go too. I should never make a decision that will cause either me or someone else to stumble. We must never do anything that would cause another person to stumble. Those that cause other Christians to stumble in their faith sin against Christ. "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." (1 Corinthians 8:12) 

 

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? If so it is time to become a Christian now! To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30, confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) After bap­tism follow Jesus in faithfulness as He leads you home to heaven. (Revelation 2:10)

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA