Choices Have Consequences - No. 46

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

As parents, we carry a great responsibility. We can no longer live to ourselves. It is an awesome fact that every decision we make will not only affect our destiny, but also the destiny of our children, grandchildren, and the continuing generations.

Our children were all affected by our decision to move from New Zealand to Australia back in 1982. Fortunately, our children are all glad that we made that decision. Because we lived in that country for nearly 10 years, our three sons married Australian girls. They are glad they found their sweethearts and faithful companions there. We then moved to America and consequently our three daughters married Americans! They are glad of their choices too. But our decisions certainly affected their futures and determined the precious grandchildren that we have today.

Every choice - small or big, on the day-to-day basis or long-term goal, will influence our children. How we need to listen to God’s voice so that He will lead us in the right direction.

I was very challenged by reading the story of Lot. Abraham and Lot lived and worked together for years. The day came when their flocks and goods increased so greatly that they needed to separate. Abraham gave Lot the opportunity to choose first. He chose the plains, the easy way, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. Eventually he was lured right into the evil city and lived there. The choice he made eventually caused sorrow and heartache to himself, death to most of his family, and devastating consequences in the succeeding  generations.

Lot lost all his possessions – his home, his wife who was turned to a pillar of salt, most of his family members, and his business.  More appalling than all, was the fact that the children who were born to him by incest were the originators of the Ammonites and the Moabites. These nations became the enemies of God’s people, the Israelites. Lot’s generations became the enemies of Abraham’s descendents! Oh what a devastating consequence! Instead of producing godly generations, Lot produced ungodly generations.

You can read about it in Genesis 19:37-38, “Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.”

It was not an evil man that made this choice. 2 Peter 2:6-8 says that Lot was a just and righteous man, “oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked…” A righteous man made a wrong decision! Oh may God help us to make the right choices.

We need to make every choice in the light of eternity, and in the light of the generations to come. We must not base our decision on how the outcome will affect us now. We must think of what the effect will be upon our children and upon future generations. This will help us to make right decisions.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord, you have promised to be my Guide, even unto death. I look to you to guide me in all my decisions, the little ones and the big ones. Help me to stay close to you so I can hear your voice saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it.’ Help me to hear your voice louder than the voices in the world that seek to influence me.  Thank you, Lord. Amen.”

QUOTE: