What will I be when I grow up? Will I go to college? If so, where? Where will I live? If I marry, how will I choose the “perfect partner?” How large a family should I have? Throughout life, we make many decisions. In fact, some say that we make up to 35,000 choices every day. Many of them are inconsequential, but some of them can affect not only this life, but all eternity. Forty-eight years ago today, I made such a decision. Today is my “spiritual birthday!” I was baptized into Christ on November 7, 1972. I believe that becoming a Christian is the most important decision one can make because it affects all of the other decisions that you make in this world.
Because of the decision to become a Christian, there are many vocations and jobs that I can’t do, or at least I would need to change how they were done. An example of someone who came to this realization was Zacchaeus. In Luke 19:1-10, after spending time with Jesus, he told Him, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I will give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luke 19:8). Where we choose to live is also very important, as Lot found out. When given the choice, Lot chose the “well-watered plain of Jordan,” (Genesis 13:11) and he “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Because of this choice, he lost everything, except for his two youngest daughters. If given the same choice again, I wonder what his decision would be.
How I dress, what I do for “fun,” and even what I spend my money on – these decisions all lead back to November 7, 1972. I’m thankful that I’ve been given so many years on this earth to serve the Lord. God is so good! But, we will all one day “answer” for our actions. Paul said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10). May we live our lives making “good decisions, ” so that heaven will one day be our home. Simply blessed, Courtney
So proud of you! Love you, Mother