I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that tI have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live… Deuteronomy 30:19
Have you ever thought about how many choices we make in an average day? Depending on the methods of the researchers, the average number of adult decisions per day can range from hundreds to thousands. The difference is whether they are counting remotely conscious decisions or only thoughtful, contemplative decisions.
According to a study by Noom, the average adult makes about 122 informed decisions per day. Most are almost meaningless while others really impact our lives. For example, what color socks we choose is of little consequence, but whether we have sufficient time to make a turn before that oncoming truck reaches us can have life-altering implications.
In this discussion, we will ponder those decisions that impact our spiritual lives here and now and into eternity. We might call these decisions a “fork in the road” because the choice made alters our eternal destination. The Bible plainly teaches we must choose from two possible paths. As Moses told the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 30:15-20, their decision concerning the law of God would determine their end. It was a choice between life and death, blessings and curses.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the wisdom literature and the prophets pointing back to this reality with a plea to take the right path. In the first Psalm, the Psalmist sets forth two ways which one may choose. The way of the righteous lets him/her stand in God’s presence, but the wicked will not stand in judgment. Proverbs sets forth the contrast of the wise and the foolish in much the same way (Proverbs 1:7). The prophets repeatedly called God’s people back to Moses’ Law with the warning that continuing on the wrong path would bring their demise (cf. Isaiah 1:10-17; Jeremiah 6:16ff; Ezekiel 3:10-11). God was clear with Solomon at the dedication of the temple that the temple would remain and His presence therein only if they did not veer off the path set forth in Moses’ Law (1 Kings 9:1-9).
The New Testament is no different as we too face a fork in the road with eternal implications. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, we can take the broad way to destruction, or we can take the narrow way to eternal life. This theme is repeated as the gospel was shared and people chose which path they would take when they approached that fork in the road. The religious leaders largely chose the wrong path, killed Jesus, and harassed His people (Matthew 27:15-26; Acts 4-5; 7-8). Others gave their all to follow Him (Acts 2:37-47; 4:18-20; 5:29-32, et. al.).
Knowing we will face various forks in the road, we must be a people of predetermination. Like Daniel and his friends, we must purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves (Daniel 1:8). We must take Solomon’s advice and consider our creator in our youth to avoid so many wasted years like the ones he lamented in Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:1). As Jesus said, we must seek the kingdom first and foremost (Matthew 6:19-34), and as Paul said, echoing Jesus, we must set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1ff).
What if we have already taken the wrong path at the fork in the road? The good news is, if we still have breath in us, we can come back and get on the right path. This in no way eliminates the earthly consequences of our past wrong decisions. However, the eternal, spiritual consequences are completely removed in Christ if we obey the gospel (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 8:12). Of course it is better to choose rightly from the start, but is it not such a relief to know there is a way back. Whatever your specific circumstances, if you are standing at a fork in the road, choose His way!