We’ve all been there. We are approaching a traffic signal when the light turns yellow. We have less than half a second to decide a. to press hard on the brake, b. press on the accelerator to get through the intersection before we see red, c. just maintain because we are okay to make it. The human mind is amazing. It processes distance, speed, coming traffic, presence of a patrolman, braking power and horsepower. It does it all in less time than it takes to say “one ten thousands.”
I wish I could make all my decisions so quickly and with such a good record of success. But, life is full of decisions that require serious ponder time. Who should we marry? Where should we go to school? How long should we stay in school? How many degrees are too many? What regimen of diet, rest and exercise will best serve me? What career should I seek? Should I take time for religion? If so, where should I go to church and what tenets should I accept as authority? None of these should be decided in less than a second.
At the close of Deuteronomy Moses exhorted, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, . . .” I do hope that one doesn’t take too long to decide. Finally, how grand it is that God chose us. He decided to send us His son. He once said to Jeremiah. “Before you were born I chose you.” What an awesome thought. Since He doesn’t play favorites that means you and I were chosen from the beginning of eternity itself.
Written by Roger Bothwell on February 13, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org