Choices, Choices, Choices. One of my favorite rock bands growing up was the group, Rush. They had a song called “Freewill” which included the lyrics “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”

This same statement can be applied to non-believers of Christ or those who aren’t sure of the claims He made. You cannot just stay on the fence about Him. You either believe He is the Son of God or you don’t. Why? Because if you are feeling uncertain about Him and you die right now, your indecision was just decided for you. There is no tomorrow to make a confession of faith.

Billy Graham once asked his audience at a crusade, “How many more times are you going to have to hear the Gospel before you decide? How many more church services do you need to attend in order to choose? How many more invitations by the preacher are you going to ignore? All the way through the Bible are choices, choices, choices.”

People seem to think they have plenty of time to decide, yet I know of no new promise given by our Creator of a guarantee of tomorrow.

Look back in history to Pontius Pilate, prefect (governor) of Judea who presided over the trial of Jesus. His own conscience bears the fact that he should have released Jesus, that he knew this man was not deserving of the punishment forthcoming. Even more than what his heart and mind were telling him, his own wife instructed him to “Have nothing to do with this man, for I have suffered many things in a dream this day because of Him.” Yet Pilate sought the approval of men first in making his decision.

How many of us are like that? We’re afraid to step out boldly in our faith for fear of ridicule or being ostracized. Deep down we know Christ is the only one who can save us from eternal damnation yet we cling so desperately to this world and the approval of those who would care less if we spent eternity separated from a loving God. So, we choose to be silent and plan for another day in the future to come forward when the timing is better.

We go on, many of us live our worldly lives in indecision despite having heard the Gospel for 5, 10, 20 years, or more. But regardless of time, ultimately everyone is going to have to answer the question, “What are you going to do with God’s Son?”

For Pilate, he was face-to-face with God, yet neglected to do what he likely felt he should. He washed his hands of Christ, never having another opportunity to save his soul. He let other people decide for him. Is this you? Are you so enamored with your current group of friends or work colleagues that you cannot dare jeopardize these relationships by professing in faith that you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? That you can no longer participate in some activities that are contrary to Scripture, for that would mean giving up a life of pleasure.

There will ultimately be a day our Lord no longer knocks at the door of your heart. You have hardened it so you can no longer hear Him. And for what reward? This world? It really is about choices, choices, choices throughout your life.

If you or someone you know is fighting with this choice, pray for them now. Ask God to open your heart to believe and to use you to help those who are lost around you find their way home. You can choose to either take your stand with Pilate in eternity by washing your hands of Him now or stand with those who boldly claim Christ as their Savior and spend eternity in the sweetness of His presence. Will you receive Him? The choice is yours.

Father, we who read this pray for those who are lost. As believers, we ask that you use us in such a way as to be put in the path of those who either don’t know You or aren’t sure about You. Prepare us to serve in such a way that the Holy Spirit can come upon these individuals and convict them of the necessity of choosing the Light of Christ over the darkness of this world. And for this, we will give you all of the praise and glory for it is in Jesus’ Holy Name we pray. Amen.