It’s time to choose
It’s been said that one of Satan’s greatest tactics is convincing people they can wait until tomorrow to make a decision about following Christ. And it works. The “gray” areas of tolerance, selective justice, and the basic desire to follow one’s own lusts, have kept many from repentance and obedience that leads to eternal life. This pause of self-serving, boasting, and willful ignorance is a dangerous game to play.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).
“You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).
There is no such thing as compromise when it comes to salvation. You can’t cherry-pick a little from the world and a little from God’s Word. The decision is black and white. Choose God and live. Don’t choose God and eternal suffering in Hell is at your doorstep.
After Joshua had led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, he gave a powerful farewell speech in which he firmly announced his loyalty and called upon the people to do the same, and to waste no time in doing it: “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
Later in Israel’s history, we find that many people were turning to polytheism – attempting to serve Baal along with God. The prophet Elijah, in a showdown on Mount Carmel, told them unequivocally that such wavering was not possible if they were going to be God’s people. “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?” he asked. “If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).
We either serve God alone, or we don’t serve Him at all. He is not just another object of worship. He is the only One worthy of worship.
While being tempted in the wilderness, Jesus showed how we should respond to Satan’s ploys of drawing us away from committing our whole lives to God: “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10).
God has given us immediate access to the strength to stand up to temptations and to live out such faith in wholehearted commitment: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14).
We don’t wait, we don’t waver. We don’t compromise or live in confusion. Through the Lord Jesus, we can have eternal life. He has overcome death, and through Him we can trust in and live for God alone.
“…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Go, Satan. We have made our choice. Today, we will worship the LORD our God and serve Him only.