THE FORK IN THE ROAD

"If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15


We live our lives in the realm of our own making. We set goals, have priorities, and establish a life-style that is suitable to us. Most of the time, the results are pleasing, acceptable, and we feel that we have "done quite well." But, has our life impacted others? Did we reach out to encourage someone else with care and compassion? Did we take the time from our hurried pace, to reach down and lift up those fallen by the wayside?

So many questions abound when we suddenly realize how selfish we have really been. How many things we would do differently, if we could only do it over again. But time waits for no one, and the opportunity passed us long ago. Why do we wait until the sunset of our lives to ponder what we could have done, and should have done?

I guess experience and maturity have a lot to do with it. Often times, through the dreadful encounters, we vow that next time we will do it differently. We find it difficult when we are young to accept the words of wisdom our parents and mentors seek to teach us. After all, they have been there, done that, and know well the consequences we will have to confront if we spurn their advice and do it our way. But do it we did, and we suffered from the folly of not heeding loving words from those who knew best.

God's Word gives us many truths and principles to heed. Examples of those who turned from their own selfish pride to humble themselves before an Almighty God. Their lives were characterized by faith and obedience. The secret of their "self-giving lives" is found in their realizing who they were before a holy, just, and righteous God. They came to the realization that, "there is none that doeth good, no, not one." They had to find their purpose for life in another...Jesus Christ. Until we come to that same fork in the road, we will plod along in a meaningless journey that will be without eternal significance and a total loss of human effort in every way, as far as God is concerned.

Moses faced the fork in the road. We read, "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward...he saw him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:24-27).

The world was his! There was nothing he could not have, being the son of royalty...BUT GOD WAS GREATER! Many would say, "What a foolish choice." But they know not the Lord, and His saving grace. Moses had his eyes fixed on the ONE who created it all, and with unwavering faith, made the choice that will count throughout eternity.

Have you come to that fork in the road? If so, what decision will you make? Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). The ball is in your court, and you must make the choice that will determine your life throughout eternity!



From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell