Choices that determine your destiny

Heb 11:24-27 - By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

Life is a journey of making choices. From the time we are up in the morning to the time we go to bed, there are so many choices we make. What time to get up, what to eat, where to go, what to do, who to meet.....etc. Choices are made at the various phases of life, be it for education, for social interaction, relationships, career, marriage and even for matters after death. Many of these choices are routine and seem insignificant. But some of the choices we make affect our destiny, the plans and purposes of God for our lives. In some cases even losing out the blessings that God has instore for us. And ironically the choices that we make may not be sinful or evil and on many occasions may even appear spiritual, rational and logical. These are the subtle deceptions the devil tosses before an unsuspecting christian and deceives them into thinking that what they choose is indeed fulfilling God ordained plans.

As he grew up Moses was educated in the leading University of Egypt, he was trained to be a leader. Josephus, the great historian, says that he was probably the greatest general that Egypt had ever had. Ambassadors were there to do his bidding. The throne of Egypt was within his reach. However the scripture tells us that Moses made some choices in his life that determined his destiny. These choices were made in the crucial phases of his life where a wrong choice would have altered the course of his destiny and also possibly that of the children of Israel. His decisions may be categorized into four major areas in life, something that we can compare and learn from:

• Choice of status. Moses chose to be a slave rather than be a royalty. Can you imagine what he was losing. We may think he must have been out of his mind. Yes, the Bible tells us that he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and made his abode with the slaves of Egypt. The point here is that if he had chosen to dwell in the courts of Egypt, he would have to compromise his Jewish values and bow down to the gods of pharaoh. He would have gained wealth, fortune and status but would have lost his own soul. Christian be weary. In the pursuit of success, don't sell out your christian values and principles. At the mount of temptation, the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”Jesus' answer was simple. "Get thee behind me satan." You are in the world and yet not of the world. David made his alliance with the God of Israel and said, I rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Status at the expense of your christian values is like drinking poison with honey. It will kill your soul.
  

• Choice of relationships. Moses chose to be with the people of God rather than be a son of a pharaoh's daughter. The choice meant suffering and pain but it helped him to maintain his relationship with God. That's the deciding factor. Choosing the right people in your life determines your final destiny. Whether its your personal acquittance or your life partner, this is an all important decision. Ask anyone who is in prison, the reason for his imprisonment. Chances are you will hear, "wrong company". An old proverb says, " Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are." Psalms 1:1 - Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. 2 Cor 6:14 - Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? Choose people who will encourage you in your spiritual walk, who have a passion for God and who love Him wholeheartedly. John Westley studied in Oxford University in 1926. While at Oxford, he and a few friends including Charles Wesley, his brother, and George Whitefield, formed a club to debate the scriptures and encourage each other to seek the truth in their religious convictions. Each member was responsible to visit the sick and to conduct a service in the jail for the prisoners which at the time was considered extremely unusual by these young collegiate men. Theirs’ was a "holy club" and they were chided by their fellow college mates for being overly pious and methodical in their daily practices. That was the start of the Methodist movement. Young students sold out for God.
  

• Choice of career. Chose to lay up treasures in heaven rather than the pleasures of the world. The guiding principle for choosing a career is that is should be in conformity to the will and plans of God. This leads to the all famous question how to know the will of God. We will deal with that subject in another devotion. Mathew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Moses decided to obey God and became a leader in the desert rather than a leader in the palace. He left a lucrative career and chose to be a slave. Why? Because as per Psalms 90:10, our days are short and therefore, "teach us to number our days." James 4:14 - Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Sometime what we are doing may be similar to what God wants us to do and something we enjoy doing. We also contribute to God's work through that career and make it look spiritual as well. End of the day, you want to ask, Did I fulfill God's plan or yes I made a lot of money but did not do what God wanted me to do.
  

• Choice of Lordship. Chose suffering and disgrace rather than the treasures of Egypt.Just like Paul in Phi 3:7-8 - But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. Joshua 24:15 - Choose you this day whom ye will serve;..... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
  

• Polycarp lived between 70 and 155 A.D., connecting him to both the biblical apostles and the age of the early church fathers. His martyrdom stands as one of the most well documented events of antiquity. The emperors of Rome had unleashed bitter attacks against the Christians during this period, and members of the early church recorded many of the persecutions and deaths. Polycarp was arrested on the charge of being a Christian -- a member of a politically dangerous cult whose rapid growth needed to be stopped. Amidst an angry mob, the Roman proconsul took pity on such a gentle old man and urged Polycarp to proclaim, "Caesar is Lord". If only Polycarp would make this declaration and offer a small pinch of incense to Caesar's statue he would escape torture and death. To this Polycarp responded, "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" Steadfast in his stand for Christ, Polycarp refused to compromise his beliefs, and thus, was burned alive at the stake.

I’d Rather Have Jesus

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

What was the overriding factor that enabled Moses to make such choices. It was Faith in seeing Him who is invisible,. That enabled him to persevere. He was willing to strive, not give up because by faith he was able to see Him who had promised. Bible says, without faith its impossible to please God. When we by faith see Him who is invincible and look forward to the heavenly reward, we will make the right choices in life, just as Moses did. Step out in faith.