Good morning. There is a word that is at the very heart of the Good News, the gospel of Jesus Christ. That word is “decision”.
As the apostle Paul begins his letter to the Romans he writes: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. Romans 1:16
The Good News, Paul says, is the power of God at work. It is at work to bring all who hear it to a point of decision, to choose whether or not to believe that Jesus is the Christ of God, our personal Savior, that God’s grace is poured out through Him. But we must choose.
This idea of choosing for or against God is not unique to the New Testament. From the garden of Eden through the lessons of the Old Testament, God says to humanity, “Choose!”
God’s prophet Joel was led to express this idea as he described the people of the surrounding nations in rebellion against God:
Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there. Joel 3:11
Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14
God calls out to the people languishing in the darkness, “Hurry! Come to Me!” They are in that valley of decision, and a choice must be made.
It is our job to first of all recognize and answer that call for ourselves, to leave our rebellion and run to the Lord. We are also called to share His Good News of salvation, to reveal to the world lost in darkness that Jesus is the light. Jesus is God’s gracious path who leads everyone back to God.
To all who are in darkness, the message for you is Good News! Hear it, choose it, choose Him, and be saved!
For all of us, may we make the best choices today. As we do so, may we lead others who are lost in the valley of decision to a place where they too may choose well.
Vern