What Would You Do?

To know of the allure of the world is one thing. To truly experience the temptation at the tip of your fingers, just within your grasp such that you could just toe the line into an alternative life is another matter altogether. That brings you to an enlightenment of the world you live in. The fact that the temptation to let the world embrace you in its deceptively welcoming arms seems so inviting is a sign of how intoxicating the world can be, if only you let it seep into your veins, just enough, slowly, bit by bit everyday. So what keeps us at this end of the spectrum- where we do not become so proud as to say we are perfect but secretly celebrate at the fact that we are not simmering in a pot of pungent sin? Well, maybe we are. But even so, a choice still remains to persist or abandon that way of life.

What I’ve realized is this- we really have freedom of choice. There will always be that voice that shouts and screams at you to take the path you should because we have the Holy Spirit in our lives, thankfully. However, there will always also be the option to shut out that voice and let the other in. Afterall, the other voice is the one we enjoy and find comfort in at times. It finds a way to be gentle, subtle and yet employing the best moments to plant little seeds of thoughts. We let that voice laced with butter tell us that we are not wrong. We let it tell us that our choices are neither disastrous nor misguided but simply a matter of preference. We let that voice coax us into submission to see that what we want must be more important than what people tell us is right. Afterall, it is our lives and we only live once.

Choices, choices, choices. So when it comes to crunch time, what choices will you make? How do we make the difficult choices even when the right one stares at you with neon eyes? On one hand we have those who present you with pious notions of just “doing what you know is the right thing”- easier said than done. On the other hand, we have those whose opinions you don’t value because their beliefs are different- inconsequential advice. So now what? Any knowledge has to partner the willingness in the heart to make a final decision in order for you know where you really stand. So, neither the voices in your head or from people around you will help you make the decision at hand. It all really boils down to you. You might not be blessed with great spiderman-like abilities but you have free will. Freedom also comes with great responsibility.

While we whine when we don’t have the freedom, we find ourselves incapable of making wise decisions with freedom we possess. Alas, this free-will business is a tricky thing. I figured this out: God gave those who know Him the knowledge that we have free will. Therefore, it is only reasonable that as we first chose to follow Him, we must now learn to use free will wisely.

I find myself incapable of joining the bandwagon of the more pious by concluding understatedly that “we just need to do the right thing”, completely eliminating the emotions that come with the package of the world so I am going to pen just a few thoughts. These thoughts to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are: You know you have free will; you know that your decision ultimately is really yours. There is a sense of great power in that knowledge but it would be wise to remember that that power can build you up or tear you down.

In making the tough decisions, some may find solace in prayer and sharing, some may find clarity in self-meditation and reflection while others might find time alone reassuring. Whatever it is, remember the responsibility which you were given with free will. It is not just the non-Christians that have it in deciding their faith. Free will is ours as long as we walk this life’s journey. We need to be thankful for it, never renouncing our God through whatever fork roads we face. We need to ask our infinitely wiser God to accompany us through those times of tough choices. That, I believe, is neither a pious notion nor mere advice but a reminder that by our strength alone, we are incapable of finding the answers we so desire or discovering within ourselves true willingness partnered by faith to make the right choices.

Written by:
Jerrine Chia
Pastor Fei Fei’s 12