It's Decision Time!

There were two brothers who lived in very similar circumstances. Both were of royal lineage and had fantastic opportunities before them. There was a moment of crucial decision that came when the subject of agency arose in the grand council in heaven. One brother offered a way to make every soul succeed and return back to the Father - they just wouldn't have any other choice. The other offered up Himself to follow the Plan created by the Father and be the Savior of all the souls who willingly chose to follow that plan back to the Father - as well as allowing those who chose other paths do as they will, even if it led them to eternal sorrow.

Because of their respective decisions made in relation to this key point, one brother fell from heaven and became adversary to all that is good and all that creates lasting happiness. The other Brother kept His eye on the big picture and suffered for everyone's short-comings and willful sins so that all who truly desire it and work as best they can to be like the Father will be covered by His grace and will be welcomed Home. Each had incredible potential, and each made different decisions that made all the difference.

You and I make decisions every day. We make choices that may not make a difference in the long-run and we make choices that could make or break our eternal destination. Choices are like rope: if you choose one end of a given rope, you can't decide to have the other end of some other rope and have them meet up. Life is not like a sitcom or movie - you can't mold the story to end your way regardless of what happens in the middle. You can't do bicep curls and expect them to tone your glutes; you can't eat garlic and expect your breath to smell like peppermint; you can't buy a chicken egg and expect a cow to hatch; and you can't take just any ol' path and expect to get back Home.

C.S. Lewis wrote many profound things, but one thing that has always stuck with me is found in The Magician's Nephew. It's near the end, when Diggory has successfully collected the apple and witnessed the Witch steal one and eat it - even though the warning said, "Come in by the gold gates or not at all, Take of my fruit for others or forbear, For those who steal or those who climb my wall Shall find their heart's desire and find despair." They were confused when Aslan planted it and said it would protect Narnia from the Witch because she so enjoyed the apple she ate on the hill, and they asked Aslan if there hadn't been some mistake about the warning - if he hadn't made some mistake about her despising the apples of the new tree.

He clarified for them and said, "Child. . . that is why all the rest are now a horror to her. That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good, but they loathe it ever after." And speaking of her receiving the long youth and beauty the fruit offered, he said she would receive what the fruit offered, but "length of days with an evil heart is only length of misery and already she begins to know it. All get what they want; they do not always like it."

I guess, to make this blog a little less than a novel, I've been more aware as of late regarding decisions in my life. I try to take a moment to think about it and ask myself, "will this bring me closer to God, or will it distance me from Him?" Then I act accordingly. No one is perfect at every moment, but if you take a moment to think before you act, you can make a perfect decision here and there throughout the day. When you have gotten into the habit of making some of the same perfect decisions, you'll have to think about it less and less and you'll eventually act perfectly - one thing at a time. At the very least, you'll be growing closer and closer to God, and when you see Him (as all of us will, at the final judgement) you'll be very much like Him and like Jesus Christ and you'll be welcomed into their presence - and be at peace there.

So, there's a tip of an iceberg thought my mind has been chewing on lately. I'm sure it will be better developed as time goes on and I practice it more consciously.