A New Year Of ChangeSample

THE CHOICE IS YOURS. Let’s go back to the beginning - Creation. We jump in, where God has created everything. From the stars in the sky to the fish of the sea, not one detail has been overlooked. For His grand finale, God creates Man. Adam and Eve were created “in His own image.” With characteristics unlike any other in creation, we, mankind, are incredibly unique. Let’s look at a few of those characteristics: • Knowledge: Man possesses the ability to think, to reason – unlike any other. Hippos lack that. • Emotion: God gets angry and disappointed at man, but shows great love and joy and forgiveness when we discover His will. In the same way, Man has emotions based upon relationships – just like God’s relationship with man. Rats are in short supply here. • Morality: Man has a consciousness, a sense of what is right and wrong, a sense of guilt. Cats sure don’t have it (though dogs do seem to know when they have done wrong). • Free Will: Do I go to University or into the military? Do I reject God or love him? Man has the ability to make decisions. Lions just act by instinct. So, why does this matter? Take a look at this idea of free will. This probably has to be the most incredible characteristic we possess- the ability to choose. We’ve been allowed a choice: to live for God or ourselves. To choose God means recognizing that we are flawed, sinful human beings, separated from God because of that sin. To choose God means believing that Jesus died on the cross as payment for our guilt, our sin, and accepting the undeserved gift of grace and forgiveness. To choose God means a life of fulfillment and purpose, pursing God’s will in our lives and the assurance of eternal life. Take a look at your life. If you died today, do you know with absolute certainty that you would go to heaven? If there’s any doubt or uncertainty about your relationship with God, choose today to finally receive that missing peace and assurance. Choose today to begin getting to know God, the Creator, in whose image you’ve been made. It’s your choice. He created you to be able to choose. Choosing to trust Him is the best choice you’ll ever make.