CHOICE, NOT CHANCE

Larry Fluitt

The salvation of the soul from sin and separation from God is a matter of choice. No one will go to heaven accidentally. Chance is not a factor in one’s redemption. The Lord declared this to be the case in the Sermon on the Mount, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).

Previously the Savior called on men to search for the true way, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). If one is to know the mind of God and the way to Life, and is to receive the spiritual blessings that are found only in Christ, he must search carefully for the narrow way. Few are willing to do so.

The apostle Paul made his choice after Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He wrote, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:7-8).

If we truly desire to go to heaven, we must seek and find and follow the way that leads to Life, and the time to do it is now! Trusting in the future leaves us on the path that will take one to eternal perdition. Jesus warned, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you ‘I do not know you, where you are from’” (Luke 13:24-25).

Today the “door” of opportunity is open to all who will enter in. The power of choice remains with us. If you are outside of Christ today, will you enter in?