By Facin A. Mathai
Often people complaint that, their life is miserable because of their fate or by the influence of some stars/planets. Bible tells in Psalms 121:6 that “the sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night”.
There are many things in our life, where we don’t have a choice, and are automatically associated with our birth (parents, family, religion, cast, creed etc.) But the choice we make later have a vital role in our life.
After planting Adam and eve in the garden of Eden, God commanded them, not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. He didn’t put a barrier around the tree or make a mechanism, which would never let them, reach the tree. They were free to do according to their wish. Genesis 2:16-17)
God send Jonah to preach against Nineveh. The people repented and declared a fasting. Jonah 3:5-10).God forgave the people once they repented. The decision of the people of Nineveh changed their history.
Prophet Isaiah was sent by God to Hezekiah to tell him that, he would surely die and never live ( Isaiah 38:1). Hezekiah cried out and prayed. God forgave him by granting 15 more years in his life. As a sign God moved the shadow ten steps backwards, on the dial of Ahaz (read Isaiah38:8). His decision changed his future.
In Acts we read about the prison escape of Peter, where angel helped Peter to cross the first guard, second guard, the iron gate and to reach the street (Acts 12:7-10). The angel disappeared without directing him to any place. The decision had to be taken by Peter. Unlike others he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, where a group of people were praying
God wanted to abide with Adam and the disobedience changed history. God wanted to destroy Nineveh, but He changed the idea, because people repented. Hezekiah was granted 15 more years when Isaiah had prophesized that Hezekiah would surely die. All the above examples reveal that our life is not a completely pre-written drama, which we need to perform. God changes the future based on our choice and decisions, we make in our life.
In a remote village, there came a great scholar, who answered all questions of the people. A large crowd always surrounded Him. A clever kid wanted to test this scholar by playing a trick. He hid a sparrow in his hand, and asked the scholar whether, the bird was dead or alive. The boy intended to squeeze and kill the bird if the answer was “alive” and to release the bird if the answer was “dead”. After a gentle pause, the scholar answered “ child, It’s in your hands you can make it dead or alive”
Yes, Surely it’s in our hands
Bible teaches us that there are two ways before us, one broad which many choose and are full of worldly pleasures, the other one narrow, chosen by few. The first way ends in suffering and the other one ends in glory. The choices and decisions we take play a vital role. We have the choice to build or destroy our lives.
Are Always our plans and decisions right?
No!!!. Because proverbs 16:25 tells that “ There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”. So let’s pray as King David Prayed “Make me know your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths”( psalms 25:4)
Let God Almighty help us to take the right decision prayerfully at the right time.
Amen
