Choices
When I first met one of these soft drink dispensers, I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. CHOICES! Don’t tell me what I can—or can’t—have! I’m going to have this … and next time I going to have this … and next time …
Two months later, I’m going back to the same soft drink I’ve always drank. (I’ll tell you what it is as soon as Coca-Cola offers to pay me for a product endorsement.)
BTW, I’ve grown to dread these machines. I always end up waiting behind an eight-year-old boy whose got to punch every button, deliberate about his options, punch more buttons, and then decide. It’s annoying—even though he’s doing what I did a few months earlier.
These machines offer 127 choices—not counting the unusual mixtures eight-year-old boys and I try. But this machine is not all that unusual. It reflects every other aspect of American life.
- We choose our cable providers because they offer a gazillion channels—even though we only watch a handful.
- We love a grocery store that offers dozens of options for shampoo and deodorant—even though we purchase the same one every time. (Hey, Old Spice, I’m waiting on your product endorsement offer too.)
- We choose a workout facility because of all the exercise and sports options they offer—even though we gravitate to the same treadmill each time.
We love our options, but our choice is simple.
- The same thing as before
- Something different
We almost always chose #1. It’s easier. We’ve been there before. We know what we’re getting into. We’re comfortable with it.
Too many of us approach life the same way. God offers us LIFE, but we often settle for the way we’ve been existing, which is really no life at all (and which ultimately ends in death). Certainly not compared to the life God offers.
We’re comfortable. Besides, we’re not a fan of radical change, so we stick to what we’re used to. All the while, we miss out—simply because we choose not to choose.
Choose life in Jesus.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).
I’m not just addressing those who have yet to choose Jesus. Many Christians settle on a decision they made years ago, but they never really step into the adventure of following Jesus. It’s like the person who pays $124 to enter Disney World and then spends the day simply sitting on a bench on Main Street watching everyone else have an adventure. It’s kinda sad.
Get off the bench.
Choose life in Jesus.
Every day.
This 
post supports the study “Transformed in My Choices” in Bible Studies for Life.
A printable version is available to share with others: Choices.
