Free Will

It really is up to you.

What if. What if Noah said, "Uh, no thanks." Or David looked at the giant and said "Who me?" Or Peter kept on fishing? What if Matthew said, "Sorry, I'm working here?" Or Saul? What if when Jesus said to him, "Stop killing and enslaving God's chosen people and start following me." He said, "No I hate them, I will kill them all?" You see, these are not perfect people.

Noah got drunk, David had an affair, Moses was disobedient, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Martha was a worrier, Jonah ran from God, Peter was a hot head, Thomas was a doubter, Matthew was a tax collector. They were all, as we all are, sinners. Average everyday people.

Imagine this. Just like Peter on his fishing boat, or Matthew at the Table of Customs, or Saul on his way to Damascus, Jesus is appearing to YOU. Right here, right now. Wherever you may be reading this, Jesus is there. He is looking you in the eye, just like He did them, and saying, "Follow me." It really is up to you.

You can continue to do whatever it is you have been doing your whole life. You can ignore the Truth. You can say you do not believe. You may even get as mad as you want and huff off. Or you can say yes. Where your life leads you from this point on, is totally up to you and this one question, posed by one man, Jesus. It all depends on your, one word answer. "Yes?" " No?"

Not all that are called, will serve?

John 6:

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Now Judas Iscariot could have chosen to go with the rest. He could have become one of the Saints we read about. However, he allowed greed to enter in and he did what he did. Now I know, some say that Jesus picked him because He knew what Judas would do. Of course He did. But He did not make him do it.

You see, there is a difference. It is obvious. It is easy to understand. However, many get confused by this simple fact. Just because God knows what you are going to do, does not change the fact, YOU will decide for yourself. In other words, I know the Sun will come up tomorrow. I tell you. The Sun comes up. Did I make the Sun come up? No. Of course not. I knew it would. I told you the truth. But I had nothing to do with the Sun actually rising. I tell my Son not to touch the hot stove or he will get burned. He touches it and gets burned. Just because I knew what would happen, did I burn my Son? No. He chose to touch it.

God know who you are. He knows the type of person you are, and who you could become. He calls you. Now, you still have the Right, and the ability, to say no thanks. You have the ability to walk away, after, at anytime. Imagine what Paul went through?

Put in prison over and over. Faced death over and over. Received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times. Beaten with rods 3 times. Stoned one time. Shipwrecked 3 times. Spent a day and night in the sea. And was in continual danger from rivers, robbers, his own people. Was always in danger in the city, in the country, at sea, from those he thought to be Brothers. Often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked.

At anytime, Paul could have simply gave up and walked away. Most would have the first time they were put in prison. Or the first time someone said if you do not stop, you will be beaten. Most people would simply shut up and not walk, but run, away. Peter, denied Jesus three times, out of fear of the people. Oh, which Jesus told him he would do. Jesus knew. Does that mean He made Peter do it? Nope. Peter had Free Will.

None of these people were anything any more special than you. As a matter of fact, The Word declares....

Romans 3:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

How could these people do the things they did? They said "Yes." Then it was God that justified them. It is God who gives you the gifts, and the Anointing, to accomplish whatever it is that He asks you to do. But again, many will be called, but few will actually be obedient and steadfast till the end.

Matthew 7:

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Do you remember the five steps to an anointed life?

Romans 8:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

God foreknows you. He sets up a plan and purpose for you and your life. He calls you. Justifies you. If you endure? He glorifies you. It is step three and four when you come in. He calls you. You say "Yes." Or you say "No." He justifies you if you say "Yes." Then He lays out the purpose and plan for your life. Many, allow the Trials and Tribulations that come, to sway them away from God. These are those that do not make it. 

Simply put...

Matthew 22:

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Then in...

Luke 10:

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

It is totally up to you. God calls you. You say "No." God calls someone else. Make no mistake about it. God's Will WILL be done. If you will not be the one to fit into the overall plan, someone else will take your place. Remember, God is no respecter of persons. He doesn't really care if you accept His Plan and Purpose. Or, if you even accept Him. He loves you. But it is YOUR choice to accept His Gift or not. In....

John 8:

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Remember what Jesus said following that famous John 3:16 passage?

John 3:

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

In...

Ephesians 2:

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

This is who you were. A Child of wrath. A Child of the devil. This is before you accept God. His Gift. This is before you become a new creature. This is who you are now. A Child of God.

Romans 13:

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Again, God condemns no one. He is not some old, white bearded guy, sitting on a throne in Heaven, just waiting for you to slip up so He can send you to hell. God IS Love. He has made the way simple for all to obtain it. It is up to you to accept or reject it.

Acts 2:

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The choice is yours. Some of you may think that you are good people. You do not steal. You work hard. You help out. You raise your family with love. You are not as bad as others. You have no need of a Savior. Jesus put it this way...

Luke 13:

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Truth is, it does not matter who you are, what you did, or are doing. It does not matter what religion you were "born into." How much money you have. Where you live. None of that matters. What matters is a one word answer, to a question, posed by one man. Jesus. "Follow me?" You have the free will to respond to that with a "Yes." Or a "No."

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now you need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

It is up to you now. You have the free will to follow what God tells you. Or not. To learn more about God's Plan for you, and your life, or not. To endure till the end. Or not. To be obedient to His Words and His way? Or not. God gave you Free Will. He will never force you to do anything. It really IS, totally up to you. What say you?

Until next time, be blessed, and Jesus IS Lord of all!