11/10/22 DON'T MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE

11/10/22 DON'T MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE

DON'T MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE

So, the guy went to the doctor because of some physical difficulty he was suffering. The doctor told him he could either relieve the pain or remove the actual problem.

The problem in this little parable could have been vision, hearing, seeing, mobility, dexterity, digestive, respiratory, circulatory. It doesn't matter for this parable.

The man was told that medication and some therapy might take care of the pain, but until he had a major procedure performed, he would continue to have the problem.

The patient asked about the procedure, such as cost, dangers, advantages, recovery and possibility of the problem recurring.

The doctor explained that it was major surgery, but the cost was covered, there was no danger, every thing about the procedure was advantageous, improved lifestyle would be immediate, but there is the possibility of the problem recurring. However, the problem will not recur if the patient avoids the detrimental causes (which are actually behaviors and habits that offer no benefits) and follows a lifestyle of health an well being. This healthy lifestyle simply takes commitment and self control.

Remember, there was nothing beneficial in his ailment and it would eventually lead to complete collapse and death if he did not take the cure. The changes which the procedure cause would be nothing but beneficial. But it would require his cooperation with basic and normal lifestyle changes.

We have all seen this in real life. People are told that smoking would kill them in a short time if they continued to smoke, or they could expect a life of normalcy for many years if they gave up smoking. SO, THEY CONTINUED TO SMOKE.

The same can be said about alcohol and other drugs. The same can be said about unnecessary stress or fear or gluttony. Yet people choose to suffer, cut their lives short and risk hell because they want what they want.

God offers salvation from sins committed and He offers deliverance from an impure heart. He offers joy, peace, love, hope and He offers it undiluted, uncontaminated, if they will trust Christ fully for their cleansing.

Of course, it means dying to self, dying to the world, dying to the carnal mind. New Birth in the Holy Spirit is the beginning of salvation, followed Death to the Old Man.

There are no down sides to the fullness of the Holy Spirit, yet people hold onto the very things that have polluted, crippled, robbed them and their families. They hold on to the trash of this world and reject the riches of Christ, in this world and the world to come.