Today’s post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Concerning EZEKIEL 3:17-21:

"Fourth, this text affirms above all else that with the privilege of wearing the prophet's mantle comes an awesome responsibility for the life and death of the people in one's charge. To be negligent in the fulfillment of one's prophetic duty is a capital crime. The prophet is to sound the horn not only WHEN God sends the signal but AS God dictates [emphasis his]. His message may not be of his own imagination OR ACCORDING TO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE [emphasis mine]. It is ultimately God's evaluation of their situation that the doomed need to hear, not the myopic opinions and panaceas of fellow human travelers. The message of God is that sin and wickedness require a radical prescription: repentance and casting oneself totally on the mercy of God. That God speaks in this situation is in itself an act of Grace."  Block, Daniel Vol 1 p 150
 
 Seems that some preachers and elders need to apply this, especially the phrase I emphasized. Way too much thought is given to the needs of the people and not upsetting them and too little to sounding the alarm that a day is coming, "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2Thess 1:7-8, ESV2011) Yes, the sweet and loving Jesus whose yoke is easy and burden is light and who loved so much he died.....
 
 Too much unpleasant truth is soft-pedaled or not preached at all, or seldom preached, or apologized for when it is preached.
 
 If I am too harsh in the way that I do it, then someone else step up and do it nicely, but we must do it.
 
 By the bye--God's prophets and apostles never found that nice way.
 
 
 That bears repeating: By the bye--God's prophets and apostles never found that nice way.
 
 
 Many that might have repented at plain preaching will go to hell because they were lulled by the nice.

And, according to Ezekiel, they will meet all those nice preachers again.

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you will have saved your life. Again, if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you will have saved your life." Ezek 3:17-21

Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.

We have all sung the song, "Que sera, sera" which translates "Whatever will be, will be" without really thinking about the consequences of what it means. True, the future is not ours to see, but is it only in the hands of “fate”? The phrase is a Spanish expression that conveys the idea of accepting the future and not worrying about what may happen. It is often used to express a sense of resignation or acceptance of events beyond one's control no matter our own choices.

Believing in fate suggests that events in life are predetermined and beyond a person's control and therefore there is no accountability. Often fate is attributed to a supernatural power or higher force. It implies a sense of inevitability, where specific outcomes are already destined to occur. Believing in fate provides a framework for understanding seemingly random or difficult events.

Fatalism is a major premise of Islam and widely held in Hinduism, too; in fact, it is a fatalistic view of life that helps keep India’s caste system in place. Greek mythology told of the Moirai, or the Fates, three goddesses pictured as weavers of men’s lives. Their decisions could not be canceled or annulled, even by other gods. But is fatalism a biblical concept?

What does the Bible say about fate?

God refuses to surrender people to their fate, namely death and eternal destruction. He changes fate into destiny for all who believe in Christ. Therefore, God's plan, his election, is paramount. Fatalism is not biblical.

God’s Word teaches that Man was created with the ability to make moral choices and that he is responsible for those choices. The Fall of Man was not a predetermined event in which Adam and Eve were hapless victims of a Puppet-Master God. Adam and his wife had the ability to choose obedience (with its attendant blessing) or disobedience (with its consequent curse). They knew what the result of their decision would be, and they were held accountable for their destiny (Genesis 3).

This theme of being held accountable for our choices continues throughout Scripture. “He who sows wickedness reaps trouble” (Proverbs 22:8a). “All hard work brings a profit, / but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23). “Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you” (Romans 13:3).

We sin because we choose to. “Each person was judged according to what he had done” (Revelation 20:13). We can’t blame Fate or God. James 1:13-14 says, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is enticed.”

Scripture also teaches that we choose to have faith. The oft-repeated command in Scripture to believe implies that we do have a choice in the matter. “Be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27; see also Acts 16:31; 19:4). What have we chosen?

Lest we get the wrong idea, we are not the sovereign masters of our lives. Only God is sovereign. His sovereign control is called “providence.” He has chosen to give us a free will, and He has created a moral universe in which the law of cause-and-effect is a reality. But God is God alone, and there are no “accidents” in the universe.

Fighting against the plan of God is pointless. “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan / that can succeed against the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30). This is why the Tower of Babel was never completed (Genesis 11:1-9), why Daniel’s detractors were thrown to the lions (Daniel 6:24), why Jonah spent time inside a fish (Jonah 1:17), and why I get in trouble when I sin.

Everything that happens in the world is made to work out according to God’s purpose. Evil exists, but it is not allowed to thwart God’s providence. God uses even sinful men for His purposes. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; / he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1). God worked in the hearts of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:36) and King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:27) to bring about His purpose. Even when Man’s intent is purely evil, God can still bring about His will, as in the case of those who crucified Jesus (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28).

In summary, the Bible teaches that God is in charge and He has offered the hope of living with Him in heaven. At the same time, He has given us choice, the freedom to obey or disobey Him, and there are some things that God does only in answer to prayer (James 4:2). Those who are obedient to Christ as Savior have accepted God’s plan (John 14:6). From then on, it’s a step-by-step following of God’s best for us, praying for His will to be done (Matthew 6:10), and avoiding the sidetrack of sin (Psalm 32:1-11; 119:59; Hebrews 12:1-2). That is what God wants of us, obedient faith in Jesus Christ looking to live with Him–our destiny.

All of us need to be aware of what the world is trying to teach us concerning fate. We are NOT in the hands of fate, and we should not make reference to it in a light way.

SONG: I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW

by Ira Stamphill 1950

I know who holds tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from its sunshine,

For its skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry over the future,

for I know what Jesus said;

And today I’ll work beside Him

For He knows what is ahead.

I don’t know about tomorrow;

It may bring me poverty.

But the one who feeds the sparrow

Is the one who stands by me,

And the path that be my portion

May be through the flame or flood,

But His presence goes before me

And I’m covered with His blood.

Today's posts is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

Luke 21:1-4  "Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.  And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'"

  The custom of having a box at the entrance to the temple in which any who wished could donate money for the upkeep of the building dates back to the reign of King Jehoash.  (2 Kings 12:9)  As happens, and similar to what Jesus taught against in Matthew 6, some made a show of their donations.  Jesus is watching the rich drop large sums into the box, and perhaps He is even formulating another rebuke against acts of worship for show, when this widow comes up and drops in two small coins.  Several weeks ago, when teaching this in class, I calculated what these two "mites" were worth in modern American money based on buying power.  (If a denarius is one day's pay for a laborer, and minimum wage is $13/hr, then figuring for an eight hour work day a denarius is approximately $100.  Before anyone scoffs, think of your weekly grocery bill, and monthly rent and tell me that a day's pay back then was significantly less than $100 in America today.)  I read somewhere that these mites (leptas) were 1/64 a denarius.  Do the math and two mites is about $3.25 in today's money.  It's hard to buy a candybar at the gas station for that price! 

 Perhaps the widow was a bit ashamed, watching the rich drop in large sums, while she had so little to offer. Jesus, instead, extols her to His apostles for giving all she had.  From what is written, it makes me wonder if she didn't skip eating that day so she could give something to God.  Her gift was small, compared to the gifts of others.  Her gift was immense when compared to her ability. 

 So, the lesson is don't get discouraged because you can't do everything that others do.  Do what you can do for the Lord, however small that may seem.  Nathan, my brother, is a preacher, a Bible professor, an author of biblical books, a publisher of even more biblical books, and a husband and father.  I look at my accomplishments for the Lord and feel inadequate by comparison.  However, none of us are judged by comparing to others.  How did Jesus judge the widow's gift?  By comparison to what she could offer.  She gave all she had.  The rich gave of their excess.  Jesus judged her more worthy. 

 Do what YOU can for the Lord.  Do ALL that you can for the Lord.  This is not an excuse for laziness.  Don't be discouraged that you can't keep up with others, but don't whine about how you "did all I could" while you spend 35 hours watching TV each week either. Examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5) and ask if there is any more you can give to the Lord.  If yes, do so.  If no, then don't worry about those who have been blessed to be able to give more.  Jesus won't compare you to them, so don't you either.  Work for the Lord; the Rest is coming.

Heb. 4:9,11  "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God . . . Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience."

Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

The hardest lesson I learned in my studies for this article is that worship is never connected with any act in either the OT or the NT. First, I looked at every occurrence of the term "worship" as the Hebrew/Greek words are not used exclusively toward God.  At no time was sacrifice or singing or any other act called worship. We immediately understand this for if one's heart is not right, no act is worship, not even the Lord's Supper. But, for one who grew up hearing about the "Five Acts of Worship," this was a tough lesson. Whereas we understand that we do worship by singing, praying, observing, giving, hearing, the NT never calls any of them worship.

We learn more about worship by the things written in the OT. Often, before or after the action of what we would normally think of as being the worship, the people "fell down and worshipped" (Ex 4:31, 12:27, Deut 26:10, 1 Chron 29:20-21, 2 Chron 29:28-29). Often, worship is done without any of the actions we would expect: Abraham's servant worshipped when he found Rebekah Gen 24:26; the people stood at the doors of their tents and worshipped Ex 33:10; and the disciples worshipped Jesus in a boat Mt 14:33. Often, worship was done while merely bowing or falling ( Ex 34:8, 2 Sam 12:20, Neh 8:6). And, just what did the blind man do? (Jn 9:38).

We understand we are to worship in spirit and truth Jn 4:24. This simple principle moves worship from actions to motivations of the heart. "Present your bodies a living sacrifice" moves worship into every action of our lives every day. But, as with the five acts, whether his life defines him as a worshipper, depends on his heart.

Many church services open with these words, "We are gathered here to worship God."  I have heard this all my life and said it often myself. But, it is one of those statements that is both true and untrue. We had best, if we value our eternal soul, so set out hearts that all we do in that assembly is worship. But, it may be useless if everything we do in our lives is not also worship. (Ask the Pharisees.)

Another hard lesson for me is that no passage implies that our gathering is for the purpose of worship. It surprises many to learn that only 2-3 pages in the whole NT teach about the "together" assembling of the saints. But the passages that address the purpose of our assembling rather than telling us, "worship God," urge us to encourage one another and provoke one another to love and good works (Heb 10:24-25). In a similar way, Paul commands "let all be done unto edifying" (1 Cor 14:26 also vss 3-5,12,17,19,31). A worshipper does not bring an empty bucket to church to be filled; he brings a full bucket for others and encourages and instructs and builds up.

Are you a true worshipper? (Jn 3:23).

"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. " (Rom 10:1-3).

Keith Ward

When I was young, my father placed great emphasis on knowing the God of the Old Testament. He said if I would know the God of the New Testament I must learn of Him through His Old Testament history and His prophets. Jehovah God of old is the same God of today.

There is another way of expressing this desire to know God and that is through our achieving purity of thought, word and deed, as Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” The Greek word optanomai translated “see” is an earnest but more continued inspection than just a casual look (Strongs). It is this pure heart that sees God that I want to address.

The word pure is exactly what we think it means: Gk katharos - clean, clear, pure, without impurities, not defiled. And figuratively, free from moral guilt, free from sin (Strongs, Vines). Amazingly, it has been pointed out that the philosophers of the Greeks (Socrates, Aristotle) didn’t address this area of virtue! (Arthur Carr’s commentary on Matthew). But when we look throughout the Scriptures, we are strongly impressed by the need for purity. God’s direction even in the Hebrew laws for physical purity also included living a pure life, with a pure love for God Lev 11:47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten. Ex 25:17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. De 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. De 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

Now, consider the following verses in the New Testament: 1Ti 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Tit 1:15 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

If we are to create a pure heart so that we can see God–now and throughout eternity–we must consider how this can be achieved. Hebrews 10:22 tells us we must first “draw near (to God) with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” There are three actions required in this verse–a sincere heart, assurance of faith, and hearts sprinkled clean through baptism. Two are our responsibility, the third is by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice now the connection between a pure heart and clean hands. Ps 24:3 “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.” This reminds me of when Abraham deceived Abimelech who exclaimed, "Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this” Ge 20:5-6. Honesty in word and the motives of our heart will affect what we think, say and do.

James draws from that Old Testament passage: Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse (katharos) your hands, you sinners; and purify (hagnizo) your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

James tells us if we want to be near God, we must cleanse our hands, purify our hearts and not be double-minded in our efforts. Integrity can only be achieved if we are committed in one direction (single-minded) with total humility. Notice also that James includes the other Greek word for purity, hagnizo. This word comes from the family of words for holy or holiness, purity.

Peter also uses another word heilikrines – judged by sunlight, i.e. tested as genuine (figuratively):--pure, sincere. (Strongs). 2Pe 3:1 “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder.” The idea of sincere and pure go hand in glove.

Did you pick up on the inclusion of a good conscience in 1 Tim 1:5? It all ties together. Our thoughts and actions toward God must be sincere, seeking His truth, living by that truth–a good conscience and therefore a pure heart. Let us be pure in truth, pure in motive, pure in thought, and pure in action toward what is good and wholesome, exercising self-control and speaking truth toward God and our fellow man.

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” We CAN know/see God by sharing His qualities of goodness, living in all good conscience with a pure heart

Joanne Beckley

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

Finally, I was asked about hanging crosses on the wall to ward off evil.  The New Testament doesn't say anything about the use of crosses or other Christian emblems, e.g., the fish symbol many put on the back of their cars.  Believing they have power to ward off evil veers one uncomfortably close to the charms and magic that was discussed and condemned in our last article, but what about wearing a cross on a necklace as a reminder of your faith?  It is not called for in the NT, but neither is it condemned.  It is not spoken of at all, and so we need to be careful about making up and enforcing rules that God doesn't.  There are some principles from the OT (Rom. 15:4) that provide warnings against what such emblems might become.

Numbers 21:4-9 tells the story of the Israelites yet again murmuring against God, and God sending in venomous snakes to punish them.  When the people prayed for relief, God told Moses to build a bronze serpent and place it upon a pole so that anyone who had been bitten could see the bronze serpent and be healed by looking upon it.  The bronze serpent was then kept, evidently as a memorial of God's mercy to His people.  Over the years, however, the people perverted that memorial into an idol to be worshiped.  Hezekiah eventually destroyed the serpent as he cleansed Judah of idols:  "And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it." (2 Kings 18:4)

After Gideon defeated the Midianites and freed the Children of Israel from their oppression, the people offered to make him king.  Gideon's response:  "I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.”  (Jdg. 8:23)  This is a great show of faith and humility.  Gideon did, however, ask for a portion of the spoil taken from the Midianites, with which he built a golden ephod, apparently as a memorial of the victory God had given His people.  Very quickly, however, this became problematic:  "And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family." (Jdg. 8:27)  To whore after something is regular OT speak for committing idolatry as a person breaks the purity of his relationship with God to chase other gods.  So, again, we see a good emblem and memorial of God's mercy and power becoming an idol in the eyes of the people.

This is where we need to be cautious regarding Christian emblems.  There is no problem if they are merely reminders of your faith and/or a way to proclaim your faith to others.  If we begin to pray to them, as if to God, or if we pray through them, as if they were more trusted avenues to God, then they become idols.  They are things we put between God and ourselves.  Do you prefer to hold on to or look at the cross when praying?  Do you kiss the cross to show devotion to God?  Then I must warn you that you are on your way to the snare Gideon's family fell into.  We cannot allow these emblems in any way to represent God.  Images which represent God or gods are idols.  Idolatry is a sin. 

Rev. 21:8  "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 

Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

When the boys were almost teens or just beginning those years, I noticed that Nathan had posters on the ceiling of his room. I just presumed he ran out of wall space. After he left, we took them down and discovered all the water marks and holes they had covered. At a still earlier age, the roof leaked in that end of the house and I tried everything I could to fix it as I could not afford a professional. Then, I did not know how to fix the holes, but Nathan managed—he covered them up. Finances improved and it was not long after we discovered the problem that we had someone fix it.

Watergate may be the best known in our times, but corruption and coverups have been around since government was. God ordained government, but Satan corrupted it. Coverups were much simpler when kings could simply lop off the heads of any who objected. Now, in our republican form of government, often the coverup causes more trouble than the original corruption.

Imputation is certainly the most evil coverup of all time with the vilest consequences. The notion that when God looks at a sinner under grace, He does not see the sins but rather looks at the perfect life of Christ which he accounts to the sinner. God wrote no passage of scripture that even suggests such an odious coverup –that a sinner with all his rotten, vulgar evil is counted righteous just like he is?!  God wrote no passage that even suggests such a thing. Satan must have worked overtime to get that one accepted as a prevalent doctrine among those denominations that call themselves, "Christian." It certainly leaves the sinner comfortable in his sins while continuing them without change and believing the lie that God is looking at Jesus rather than his foul soul.

Passages can be multiplied that proclaim that we are cleansed, pure and holy because we are forgiven by Jesus' blood, i.e. His death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:1-7; Heb 8:11-12; Acts 22:16; etc ) Paul makes clear that God chose us to be holy and without blemish and by his grace through Jesus and the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses i.e. sins (Eph 1:3-10). Forgiveness makes men holy, not some kind of mockery of holiness wherein God pretends that the sinner still in his sins has the righteousness of Jesus. We remain holy by finding the way of escape God provides and by seeking Jesus our advocate "IF" we sin (1 Cor 10:13; 1 Jn 2:1-2). Since God makes the way of escape, it takes a willful act by a man to return to bondage. A man overcomes temptation by God's gracious help.

"For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life"is expanded and explained when the apostle says a few verses later, "We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life…for he that has died is justified from sin." The whole matter of being saved by Jesus life is summed up, "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no more I who lives but Christ lives in me" (Rom 5:10; 6:4,7; Gal 2:20). You have no need to cover up the holes in your holiness, the ugly stains on your soul with pretend posters of Jesus taped up between you and God. Repent and live righteously by the power of the blood.

As Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

And such were some of you: but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

When I was being asked about demonic possession, I was also asked if I would bless the home.  The first thing I said is that, while I'm always willing to pray for anyone who asks about most anything, my prayers are not worth any more or any less than anyone else's.  I am merely a preacher, not some sort of shaman.  While I'm always willing to pray, the better protection against any sort of problem the world presents you is for you to develop your own close relationship with God through regular prayer.

1 Thess. 5:16-18  "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you."

Phil. 4:6-7  "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."

1 Pet. 5:6-7  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you. 

In looking at these passages, three things stand out:  the regularity of prayer, the close relationship of gratitude with prayer, and the fact that you can and should pray about anything that makes you anxious.

In relation to this topic, one hears more and more about rituals performed to rid a home of "bad juju" or hexes.  (I'm looking at you, NCIS Special Agent McGee and your wife Delilah.)  This is nothing other than paganism, roundly condemned in the Bible.

Deut. 18:10-12  "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you."

Notice that these things are not a part of the Law of Moses, done away when Christ fulfilled it, but are a part of an older, fundamental morality.  This is clear since the Canaanites, who were NOT under the LOM, were being driven from the land specifically because of these abominations.  We should fear to participate in anything that resemble magic, charms and fortune telling. 

1 Sam. 15:23  "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry." 

Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.

In the book, *The Bell Jar* by Sylvia Plath, the main character is wracked with a decision that needs to be made. That night, in a dream, she stands viewing a tree with all the figs withered and rotting on the ground. On awaking, she realizes that not making a decision is a decision.

Long ago I stood facing a live fig tree and viewed the same disappointment in myself because I couldn’t share the bountiful crop with my neighbor—they were all lying rotting on the ground, and the gift lost.

At times making decisions can be very difficult and the temptation comes to simply ignore or wish it away, even refuse to make a decision. And so, the decision is made.

At this moment in time, you and I are at the exact place we have brought ourselves through the myriad choices we have made along the way. The only thing over which we have much control is the very next decision we make today.

Will we make a wise choice, or jump in too quickly, or simply allow the figs to lie rotting on the ground and thus pay for the choice we actually made by not acting on the opportunity?

Life is not made up of simple answers. What life needs is the binding glue of convictions—what we believe and our hope for the future.

Romans 6:16 

“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

So, what are we doing today with the most life-changing power in the world? We have this gift from God—the ability to make choices. All you and I need to do is use it in the right way.

Most of us have made three far-reaching and important choices: how to make a living, whom to marry, and ultimately whom we will serve. But what about difficult decisions yet to be made?

One man said, “Hard decisions are never met with gratitude.” This is so true. I have not met someone who joyfully greets the need to make a decision.

Before I list a number of points in decision making, we must realize that our decisions affect others. Nearly every decision we make will affect different people in one way or another.

It is important to be aware of the influence our decisions will have and understand what the “human cost” will be. Consider King Saul, who let his fears rule his heart above obedience to God by making a really bad choice—and lost his sons the right to rule the kingdom of Israel (1 Samuel 15).

5 Steps to Good Decision Making

Step 1: Pray 

Pray that with God’s help, you will wisely choose your thoughts and actions.

Step 2: Identify the Need 

Identify what you want to achieve with your ultimate goal in mind.

Step 3: Gather Information 

Gather information for weighing your options. Take the necessary time.

Step 4: Consider the Consequences 

Think about the positive and negative consequences for each choice. Think carefully and walk softly when there is a lack of information available.

Step 5: Make Your Decision 

If action must be taken, prefer the best choice—even if you will be seen as the one at fault and must ask for forgiveness.

Step 6: Evaluate Afterwards 

Take time to evaluate the decision you made and the action you took. Reflect not only on your success, but also on your mistakes. You cannot learn from your mistakes if you don’t take the time to reflect on them.

Consider questions like these:

- Maybe an assumption was way off or you didn't seek any other input. 

- Maybe you didn't give yourself time to think things through. 

- Are you afraid of failure or even the consequences of success? 

- Did you worry about what other people will think about you? 

- Even perfectionism may be getting in your way. 

- Perhaps you didn’t purposefully make a decision and must now face the consequences.

Analyze the situation and look at other possible alternatives you may have had. What did you learn? What will you do differently tomorrow as a result?

Yes, we can make bad decisions. Most of our bad decisions occur because they feel comfortable and automatic, and our emotions steer us incorrectly. Our perception of time is inaccurate and we fail to consider what might be down the road.

There are always consequences when we make unwise choices. A mature person will accept the consequences and learn from them. Likewise, when time proves we have made a wise decision, we will rejoice and give thanks to God.

God has given us the power of choice. No other animal in the world has ever had this power. Obviously, God has given us the ability to make good—even excellent—decisions.

Let us not cripple or weaken that gift. No one desires rotting figs lying on the ground.

Joanne Beckley

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.  As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preaches unto you any gospel other than that which you received, let him be anathema(Gal 1:8-9).

How long since this passage was preached where you are? The word anathema literally means, "accursed" and is often so translated. The problem is not that any particular one of these passages is not preached. The problem that screams "Danger!" is that the N.T. contains so many such warnings and they are seldom cited at all.

Further, note that the problem is not just a small adjustment needed. Another gospel is being preached. This gospel is so opposite Christianity that Paul warns them, "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel."  They are no longer in the grace of Christ, no longer in God who called them (cf Gal 5:8).

Now, be aware that the apostle nowhere accuses that they denied Christ, that they ceased to observe the Lord's Supper, that they changed any of the things we do in together worship in any manner. Yet, they left the grace of Christ for another gospel. How? They allowed themselves to be coerced into adding a step to the plan of Salvation, circumcision. The false teachers said that to be true Christians they had to be circumcised. Paul said that to accept part of the law for salvation meant they must keep it all and that no one could be saved by law. Well, why make a big deal, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love(Gal 5:6)." That reinforces that current status has nothing to do with salvation and one need not change. The one who requires circumcision is a false teacher with a message other than the gospel.

So, what does that have to do with us today? Looking around society, we find many teachers with popularity teaching a Jesus who is only accepting and loving toward sinners.  One need not read far in the God-inspired gospels to learn they are not teaching the Jesus of the Bible. In many other ways, popular religion changes the Bible picture of God or Jesus into another gospel. Is anyone calling these men out as Paul did those who deceived the Galatians? Are you being taught how to counter these false views when you discuss Jesus with friends?

Even the conservative denominations who mostly present a Bible view of God and Jesus have changed the plan of salvation. No, they did not add something to it, they subtracted everything but faith. I have heard men who ought to know better commend in the Lord's church the leaders of such groups by name.

Once churches of Christ grew by converting people. Now, it seems that many are determined to grow by never offending anyone. In our modern world, tolerance means we must accept people as they are, not challenge them to repent. In the past, people tried to bind "the way we have always done it" as though it were written in the Bible. As our culture creeps into the kingdom, we face a greater problem of the failure to preach boldly and forcefully, and confront both sin and changes to the gospel.

So, can you even see the shore from the distance you have drifted?

Son of man, I have made you a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, You shalt surely die; and you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you hast delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and you hast delivered your soul (Ezek 3:17-21).

 Keith Ward