November 7: Of the Blessing of a 16-Year Old’s Self Awareness

Ezekiel 16:42-17:24

Hebrews 8:1-13

Psalm 106:13-31

Proverbs 27:7-9

Sometimes I am in awe of my almost-16 year old's self awareness and maturity.  We were chatting the other day about some friends who'd gotten themselves into a bit of trouble, and he matter-of-factly made a simple point: you can choose your actions, but you cannot choose the consequences of your choices.  

In today's psalm we are reminded of Dathan and Abiram, who chose to rebel against Moses and Aaron, the Lord's chosen leaders.  By the free will God gave all mankind, they could make that choice.  But they could not dictate what consequences they would face, nor upon whom those consequences would fall.  The Lord chose to have the earth swallow them up, and not just them, but their families as well.  Furthermore, "fire came out form the Lord and consumed the 250 [followers of Korah] who were offering incense."

To some, such punishment would seem to contradict the idea of an all-good, all loving God.  How could such a God mete out such punishment?  Or worse, condemn a sinner to an eternity of damnation and suffering?  

Norman Geisler, in the book he and Ravi Zacharias edited, called "Who Made God?" asks and answers this question.  Paraphrasing his citation of CS Lewis, he notes that there are "only two kids of people in the end: those who say to God, 'They will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, "thy will be done."  Lewis put it well: "The door of hell is locked on the inside", and as Geisler says, "all who go there choose to do so."  They make choices, the consequence of which is to find themselves locked inside a room they entered on their own.

What is amazing about God is this: that for as often as we choose to reject Him, He persistently gives us the opportunity to change our mind, to choose Him and enjoy the acceptance that He had always made available.  Paul confirms as much in the NT reading from his letter to the Hebrews: "For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more."   

Father, today we pray for wisdom and gratitude: the wisdom that can only come from You, which allows us to choose our actions wisely, and in full consideration of their consequences; and gratitude that, however often we choose poorly, You stand ever ready to forgive us and welcome us back.