Deadly Decisions
Deadly Decisions Throughout the course of our lives we make an extraordinary number of decisions—not just in the context of temporal interests and welfare, but also in the context of our spiritual interests and welfare.
In the course of making either of these types of decisions we sometimes see, or realize, the consequences of our decisions rather quickly—but, more often than not—it may be months; or, years; or, perhaps a lifetime; before we realize whether certain of our decisions were good ones, or bad ones!
In discussing this topic, our final objective, will be to bring ourselves forward, in a prophetic sense, to a time and place where we believe our decisions will be those that are crucial to our spiritual welfare—when the consequences of those decisions will be realized very quickly. Those decisions which, we would characterize as Deadly Decisions… the title for our remarks… decisions that quite literally may include those involving: “life, or death!”
Before we go forward on our prophetic trip, we think it worthwhile to journey back in time, to review a variety of circumstances that motivated certain individuals to make rather astonishing decisions that can serve as powerful examples for us.
And, as often is the case, there are other examples that could have been called attention to—but space will limit us to only a few!
In the course of looking at these examples we would like you to keep in mind two points:
First, is that we need the encouragement of Scripture to see, and understand, that both the small, daily decisions that we make—as well as the really large, once-in-a-lifetime decisions—are vitally important in our Christian walk.
And SECONDLY, is that AVOIDING bad decisions is just as important as MAKING good decisions!
We’ll elaborate somewhat on this second point because we believe it’s an important one and, that without explanation, might not be clearly understood.
We’ll be using three scriptures to clarify what we have in mind. The first is Psalm 45, verse 7:
Psa. 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
When we read this verse it should be apparent to all of us that while the LORD is pleased with those that love righteousness—it is also manifestly clear that He is more pleased with those that also hate wickedness.
Applying this principal to decision-making—it’s not enough that we take delight in making good decisions—but that we also abhor making bad ones. We could conceivably make a whole lot of good decisions—but fail to make our calling and election sure (or perhaps worse)—by making a few very bad decisions.
The second text that speaks directly to this point is found in Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 24:
Ezek. 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Certainly the LORD is pleased to see our righteousness (as incomplete or filthy as it is) but, it is also rather obvious, as stated in this text, that He does not entirely close the eye to forgive or dismiss every act of unrighteousness.
The third text is in Matthew chapter 7, verses 22 and 23:
Matt. 7:22,23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Again, we cannot expect that what we have done will be the sole basis of our acceptance in God’s sight. Our verdict also takes into account what we could have done! Or, what we could have done DIFFERENTLY Remember the account of the Rich Young Ruler?
Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Jesus responded:
Mark 10:19-22 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, ALL these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, SELL whatsoever thou hast, and GIVE to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
What he failed to do—is what ultimately prevented him from EVEN BECOMING a disciple!
Conversely, we should be on guard—that we not have the notion, as many of our Catholic friends do—that we can flub-up with a lifetime of bad decisions and correct our course with one good one— made on our deathbed!
Brethren, we should never underestimate the importance of putting the LORD first in our decision making process. For, if we fail to do so, it will surely become manifest—even as Paul expresses “the day shall declare it.” (1 Cor. 3:13) With our long preamble behind us, we’ll look at our examples, which we have characterized by 6 different types.
FIRST, consider the importance and value of making a decision to serve the LORD by: 1 taking a stand for the LORD:
Picture yourself back in time as one giant called Goliath mocks the God of Israel—and, he does so not just for a day or two, or even a week or two—he mocks the God of Israel for 40 days!
1Sam. 17:4-7 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
Would you have the courage to make a decision that for all practical purposes to the flesh would be like staring death in the face! None in the camp of the Israelites, including Saul or David’s brothers, were prepared to fight for God’s cause and to take a GIANT leap of faith! But, David did!
1Sam. 17:36, 37 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
So David went out to do battle with Goliath—not by his own might—but, by the power and might of his God!
1Sam. 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
When we go out onto the battlefield to fight our enemies whether they be as in Eph. 6:12 principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Do we place our confidence in God? Do we believe that He is more able than our enemies to give us the victory?! Remember Caleb’s expression of confidence?! “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Upon our own strength, we are obviously no match against the Adversary—the Goliath that mocks the LORD—but, we can take the lesson of David—and place our confidence in the LORD to give us the victory! Like the soldier who bears the flag marching at the front of the troops on the battlefield—it will take courage and fortitude. And, oftentimes our brethren—even our own family—as was the case with David—may not have what it takes!
How old we are—or how many years we’ve been in the truth—do not—of themselves assure that we will have what it takes! God chose David—not because he was the oldest—but because his heart and affections were in the right place. If the circumstance is such that ALL that are around us are fearful; will we be able to make the decision to respond in a similar manner as Paul did:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Our Rom. 8:31 SECOND example:
Consider the importance of making a decision to serve the LORD by: 2 doing a specific work.
Picture yourself back in time as a cupbearer—that is a taste-tester—a confidant—to an autocratic king who was known for his somewhat wanton and arbitrary decisions. Nehemiah, was that cupbearer—to a king called Artaxerxes. When Nehemiah had heard of the condition of Jerusalem he was determined to rebuild the wall and the fortifications that had been destroyed. His determination, and reliance upon the LORD, were what ultimately gave him the courage to petition Artaxerxes for a leave of absence that would be in excess of 10 years (Neh. 2:6)! Under normal circumstances such a petition would be unheard of—and could easily result in the harshest of penalties—quite possibly, a death sentence. But Nehemiah, after mourning, fasting, and praying approaches the king.
Neh. 2:1-5 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, (we take note that this expression gives evidence that Nehemiah’s decision to petition the king was a risky one!) And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
“Then I was sore afraid.” We should remember the setting back then… the situation was a lot more serious than one of us going to our boss to ask for a raise or something of that sort... Under autocratic rule, if you offended the king, or made it appear as though you were manipulating him, your life could easily be forfeited! Remember the account of the Baker who offended Pharaoh in Joseph’s day (Gen. 40).
In fact, it was Artaxerxes who previously issued an edict against Jerusalem which is recorded in Ezra 4:8-24.
So, here we have Nehemiah who, having determined that an important work needed to be accomplished, is ready to put his life on the line as he petitions the king! And, in marked contrast to Nehemiah’s initial prayer that consumed him day and night—we have in verse 4 what may be the shortest prayer recorded in Scripture. This occurred in the moment between the king asking Nehemiah what he wanted—and Nehemiah’s response: “So I prayed to the God of Heaven…”
Again, we note—not only the importance of petitioning God first—but that Nehemiah did so in spite of not being certain how the King would respond! With that, Nehemiah makes his request known to the king, and the king responds in what perhaps was an unexpectedly positive manner. For Nehemiah describes the king as being “pleased” to send him!
How often do we find, that through the weaknesses of our flesh we become apprehensive and fearful, only to find that the LORD’s arm is never short, and He can make that which seems insurmountable, as if it were no obstacle at all…. We’re reminded of Jesus’ admonition in Mt. 17:20:
“...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Or, in John 15:7:
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Would we be as committed to make a decision to participate in a work if the stakes were as high!
Our THIRD example:
How about a circumstance in which one is compelled to make a decision to serve the LORD by: 3 going contrary to civil authority.
Consider the account of the Three Hebrew Children (Dan. 3) In reading the Biblical account we’re brought into the thick of things almost immediately. We find that Nebuchadnezzar has constructed an image in the Plain of Dura, to which he expects everyone to pay homage. The dream he previously had, that so impressed him, perhaps was one factor that influenced him to build the image. But, we might also conjecture that the Chaldeans were also ready to exploit the circumstance for their own advantage.
You will recall that Daniel and his companions were elevated to prominent positions of favor as we’re told in the account “over the affairs of the province of Babylon” (Dan. 2:48,49). And, as Jews, they of course, held contrary religious views—views that would be seen as a threat by the Chaldeans! So, we surmise that the Chaldeans had much to do with the enactment of the law that would be used to target the 3 Hebrews.
Dan. 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
It is interesting to note that the Chaldeans first labeled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—by identifying them as Jews. This would presumably make it less of a problem for the King to render a harsh verdict. After all, they were Jews—they were, as it were, strangers and foreigners—they would not be sympathetic to the King’s religious views…. As a matter of background—the Chaldeans, were from the land of Babylon and were considered learned men in the fields of science and religion—being, as it were, a priestly class. Had they not gone out of the way to inform the King of the 3 Hebrews, there would have been no Chapter 3 in the book of Daniel!
But, they did inform the King, and no doubt desired that the King would render judgment according to his own decree…. Going contrary to civil law is not something that a Christian by nature is accustomed to do! In fact, to the contrary, a Christian for all intents and purposes is law-abiding and respectful. But, what if you found yourself in a circumstance where a law was enacted that your faith deemed to be contrary to conscience and principle? Would your conviction be strong enough to make a decision to obey a higher law to which you were held accountable?!
While civil disobedience, is not something to be indulged in; someday--we, like others of the past— may find that we can do nothing else but disobey civil law!
There are even natural laws that illustrate the principle that higher laws can, in fact, supersede the general laws of nature. If the law of acceleration did not supersede the law of gravity, we would be forever bound to earth!
Our FOURTH example:
How about a circumstance in which one is compelled to make a decision by 4 continuing in a pattern of public worship.
Consider the account of Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Dan 6). In this account Darius the Mede is persuaded to make a decree that no man should petition any other god, or man for 30 days. The idea of petitioning another was specifically targeting Daniel, who was known for his worship of and prayer to, his God.
At the time, the suggestion sounded reasonable to the King—but when it caused Daniel to be an offender—the King regretted that he had made such a decree. Albeit, according to the law of the Medes and Persians it was unalterable; and thus was Daniel handed over to the Lions. The lions, of course, were not just the ravenous beasts in the pit!
In the 4th verse we find that they premeditated Daniel’s demise:
Dan. 6:4, 5 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Whether there was any fault to be found, or not, was clearly not the issue. They had it in for Daniel, just as there were those that had it in for Jesus, and their intent was to craft a circumstance in which it would be perceived that Daniel was guilty of a capital crime—that is a crime that would require that Daniel be put to death! And, so it was that they were successful in seeing that the King would enforce the law in spite of the King’s affection for Daniel.
Daniel did not compromise his manner of worship to avoid persecution or prosecution. To what lengths might we make a conscious decision to keep our priorities in order—and, at what cost?
Our FIFTH example.
How about a circumstance in which one makes a decision by 5 speaking out against civil and religious authority.
Consider the account of the Beheading of John the Baptist.
Here we find that Herod has taken his brother Philip’s wife. As recorded in Mark 6, beginning with verse 18, John tells Herod:
Mark 6:19, 20 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
As the account unfolds we find that Herod is manipulated by Herodius. Even though Herod views John as blameless, nevertheless, because of an unanticipated promise to Salome he finds himself obligated, for expedience’ sake, to dispatch John.
Mark 6:21-27 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto
the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
John obviously was not a wimp. He was clearly an outspoken character—particularly with regard to the religious leadership of his day. But, it wasn’t until the time presented itself, that John seized the moment to speak against civil authority as represented in the person of Herod. Would we be as quick to seize the moment? Would we be as outspoken? What decision would you make?
And, the last example, but by no means the least…. a circumstance in which one is compelled to make a decision which will result in 6 being brought as a sheep to the slaughter.
Consider the account of the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus.
In contrast to earlier portions of our Lord’s ministry where he plainly stated that he came not to send peace, but the sword—and, where he also was clearly outspoken—and even demonstrated his zeal when he took a whip in hand to drive the animals and the money changers out from the Temple—there came the appointed time when he would travel a different road—one that would take him to his death!
Is. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Matt. 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed…
Matt. 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
To be not only, ready and willing, but to be zealous on accomplishing that which was written of him, concerning his death—is utterly astounding! Our Lord had no intention of missing his appointment with his adversaries—even death itself! And, consider that this was done in the same context as his response to Satan himself!
Matt. 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Obviously, concerning ourselves, we could not withstand our adversaries—even if we wanted to— but, we could take our sacrifice off the altar! The question is—will we be prepared to make a decision—to leave it on the altar?! Will we be quiet before our accusers when the time for our demise approaches?
The common thread to all of these examples—is that the choice was one that involved life and death. Life from a spiritual perspective—but death to the flesh!
Let me repeat; life from a spiritual perspective—but death to the flesh!
These accounts have been recorded, not merely to arouse a sense of admiration, but to warn us and fortify us of things to come! To be examples for our admonition!
We believe each of these accounts, as well as others, speak of that time—yet ahead of us—where we also will be in a position to make such a decision!
David’s decision to resist Goliath and to take a stand for the LORD and righteousness is one that we are fighting with every day. Solomon wisely stated that:
Prov. 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
That is to say—there is another road that one can travel which also amounts to a life and death decision. But, the end of that road deserves no glory or praise!
If we are not careful we could find ourselves in the awkward position of realizing that a lifetime of decisions rendered consequences that we had never imagined! Those decisions may be of the small seemingly inconsequential sort—or, they may be those that were of the giant or Goliath sort—that we never stood up to! It can be stated no better than it has been by our Lord himself:
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Nehemiah’s decision to engage in the work of rebuilding Jerusalem is one that we should be undertaking daily with our sword in hand—even as was the case with Nehemiah as he faced his daily threats. Yet the clear and present danger facing the Laodicean Church is that there will be many that are lukewarm. Are we too lax in our service and degree of interest and enthusiasm that we might allow a breach in the walls of our faith to let the enemy in?!
How can we expect to have a part in the work of Smiting the Jordan, as typified by Elijah, if we are not preparing ourselves spiritually to be ready to perform such a work?!
Will we like the 3 Hebrews be prepared to make the decision to go contrary to civil law where such law, or laws, goes contrary to conscience and principle? And, will we be prepared to do so under the penalty of death? Will we be ready to have the cords of flesh consumed, as were the cords that bound the 3 Hebrews?
Six stages of the Gospel Age Church have endured extraordinary hardship, suffering, and death. What could possibly lead us to believe that we would be an exception—particularly when the Scriptures testify to the contrary?! Even the Great Company at the very end of the Age is described as Rev 7:14 …they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Paul also reminds us that:
Heb. 12:4 Ye [We] have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
And that:
Acts 14:22 …we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Daniel made a decision to continue to worship his God even when it was clear that death would be the consequence. Is it any wonder that Paul gives us the council?
Heb. 10:24, 25 …let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Will we be even alert enough to see “the day” let alone “dare to be a Daniel?”!
John was not ashamed or timid to proclaim a message when it was due—even if such a message was one that struck a raw nerve!
Do we on a daily basis seize the moments?
2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1Pet. 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
In a prophetic sense will we be ready to denounce an illicit union of far greater proportions?
Is. 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Or will we draw back?
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words… of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
From his earliest decision to come here to earth to be made flesh, to his decision to permit his adversaries to take his life it is evident that our Lord was fully aware of the consequences. Are we taking account of the warnings and the encouragements that the Lord himself provided for us; that:
Luke 12:11 And when they bring you [us] unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, [that we will] take ye no thought how or what thing ye [we’ll] shall answer, or what ye [we’ll] shall say:
Or, as expressed in Romans:
Rom. 8:36 … we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Revelation 17:12 describes a time when Church will unite with State—not as it historically did for 1260 years—but, nevertheless, to once again be a persecuting power over the LORD’s people.
Rev. 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
It is no mere coincidence that the accounts concerning Daniel, the 3 Hebrews, John, and our Lord ALL illustrate the fact that there has been, and once again will be, such a conspiracy against the LORD’s anointed.
The Adversary will use Papacy and Protestantism to coerce Civil Government into becoming, albeit unwittingly, the executioner of the Feet Members. And, the entire matter will be, as it was with Jesus, expedient.
As we sit here quietly in our meeting, this may seem far-fetched—the result of an overactive imagination! But, so was the idea of putting a man on the moon, or that pieces of the demolished Berlin Wall would be sold as souvenirs, or that the Soviet Union would be dismantled, or that Islam would become such a dominant influence in the world—or, that we would be occupying Iraq, etcetera.
Just as there were those who influenced the passage of laws in Daniel’s day for evil intent—do not discount the likelihood that there are such individuals in this generation! Many of the freedoms that we have enjoyed under our democracy have already been eliminated or jeopardized with the passage of the Homeland Security Act. This Act gives very broad power to the legislative branch of the Government, particularly the President, to take any action deemed appropriate, if it is believed to be in the interest of national security. The Patriot Act goes one step further by allowing the government to monitor where we go, who we see, and even what we read…. The attitude that was behind the labeling of Daniel and the 3 Hebrews as Jews is not much different than the attitude that imprisoned those of Japanese descent here in America, during WWI…What Civil Libertarians have fought for, over the course of decades, is quickly being reduced to ashes with a simple stroke of the pen and an Executive Order.
And, to top matters off, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a populace that is fearful is often willing to give up personal liberties in the interest of safety.
In the big picture, as God’s Word informs us, these misguided and misinformed efforts to stabilize society will in reality, pave the way for the complete demise of society as we know it.
Our Lord was talking to each one of us when he said:
Matt. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Matt. 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
The terms and conditions are explicit:
2Tim. 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.
In conclusion:
Decision-making is not always an easy task. It often requires deliberate thought and evaluation.
Wrong decisions can lead us out of the way as easily as right decisions can keep us in the Way. Never underestimate the importance of developing a pattern of good decision-making. Because, in the final analysis--we may well be facing a Deadly Decision.
1Cor. 3:19–21 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether … LIFE, OR DEATH, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
Russell Shallieu
In the course of making either of these types of decisions we sometimes see, or realize, the consequences of our decisions rather quickly—but, more often than not—it may be months; or, years; or, perhaps a lifetime; before we realize whether certain of our decisions were good ones, or bad ones!
In discussing this topic, our final objective, will be to bring ourselves forward, in a prophetic sense, to a time and place where we believe our decisions will be those that are crucial to our spiritual welfare—when the consequences of those decisions will be realized very quickly. Those decisions which, we would characterize as Deadly Decisions… the title for our remarks… decisions that quite literally may include those involving: “life, or death!”
Before we go forward on our prophetic trip, we think it worthwhile to journey back in time, to review a variety of circumstances that motivated certain individuals to make rather astonishing decisions that can serve as powerful examples for us.
And, as often is the case, there are other examples that could have been called attention to—but space will limit us to only a few!
In the course of looking at these examples we would like you to keep in mind two points:
First, is that we need the encouragement of Scripture to see, and understand, that both the small, daily decisions that we make—as well as the really large, once-in-a-lifetime decisions—are vitally important in our Christian walk.
And SECONDLY, is that AVOIDING bad decisions is just as important as MAKING good decisions!
We’ll elaborate somewhat on this second point because we believe it’s an important one and, that without explanation, might not be clearly understood.
We’ll be using three scriptures to clarify what we have in mind. The first is Psalm 45, verse 7:
Psa. 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
When we read this verse it should be apparent to all of us that while the LORD is pleased with those that love righteousness—it is also manifestly clear that He is more pleased with those that also hate wickedness.
Applying this principal to decision-making—it’s not enough that we take delight in making good decisions—but that we also abhor making bad ones. We could conceivably make a whole lot of good decisions—but fail to make our calling and election sure (or perhaps worse)—by making a few very bad decisions.
The second text that speaks directly to this point is found in Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 24:
Ezek. 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Certainly the LORD is pleased to see our righteousness (as incomplete or filthy as it is) but, it is also rather obvious, as stated in this text, that He does not entirely close the eye to forgive or dismiss every act of unrighteousness.
The third text is in Matthew chapter 7, verses 22 and 23:
Matt. 7:22,23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Again, we cannot expect that what we have done will be the sole basis of our acceptance in God’s sight. Our verdict also takes into account what we could have done! Or, what we could have done DIFFERENTLY Remember the account of the Rich Young Ruler?
Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Jesus responded:
Mark 10:19-22 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, ALL these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, SELL whatsoever thou hast, and GIVE to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
What he failed to do—is what ultimately prevented him from EVEN BECOMING a disciple!
Conversely, we should be on guard—that we not have the notion, as many of our Catholic friends do—that we can flub-up with a lifetime of bad decisions and correct our course with one good one— made on our deathbed!
Brethren, we should never underestimate the importance of putting the LORD first in our decision making process. For, if we fail to do so, it will surely become manifest—even as Paul expresses “the day shall declare it.” (1 Cor. 3:13) With our long preamble behind us, we’ll look at our examples, which we have characterized by 6 different types.
FIRST, consider the importance and value of making a decision to serve the LORD by: 1 taking a stand for the LORD:
Picture yourself back in time as one giant called Goliath mocks the God of Israel—and, he does so not just for a day or two, or even a week or two—he mocks the God of Israel for 40 days!
1Sam. 17:4-7 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
Would you have the courage to make a decision that for all practical purposes to the flesh would be like staring death in the face! None in the camp of the Israelites, including Saul or David’s brothers, were prepared to fight for God’s cause and to take a GIANT leap of faith! But, David did!
1Sam. 17:36, 37 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
So David went out to do battle with Goliath—not by his own might—but, by the power and might of his God!
1Sam. 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
When we go out onto the battlefield to fight our enemies whether they be as in Eph. 6:12 principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world.
Do we place our confidence in God? Do we believe that He is more able than our enemies to give us the victory?! Remember Caleb’s expression of confidence?! “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Upon our own strength, we are obviously no match against the Adversary—the Goliath that mocks the LORD—but, we can take the lesson of David—and place our confidence in the LORD to give us the victory! Like the soldier who bears the flag marching at the front of the troops on the battlefield—it will take courage and fortitude. And, oftentimes our brethren—even our own family—as was the case with David—may not have what it takes!
How old we are—or how many years we’ve been in the truth—do not—of themselves assure that we will have what it takes! God chose David—not because he was the oldest—but because his heart and affections were in the right place. If the circumstance is such that ALL that are around us are fearful; will we be able to make the decision to respond in a similar manner as Paul did:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Our Rom. 8:31 SECOND example:
Consider the importance of making a decision to serve the LORD by: 2 doing a specific work.
Picture yourself back in time as a cupbearer—that is a taste-tester—a confidant—to an autocratic king who was known for his somewhat wanton and arbitrary decisions. Nehemiah, was that cupbearer—to a king called Artaxerxes. When Nehemiah had heard of the condition of Jerusalem he was determined to rebuild the wall and the fortifications that had been destroyed. His determination, and reliance upon the LORD, were what ultimately gave him the courage to petition Artaxerxes for a leave of absence that would be in excess of 10 years (Neh. 2:6)! Under normal circumstances such a petition would be unheard of—and could easily result in the harshest of penalties—quite possibly, a death sentence. But Nehemiah, after mourning, fasting, and praying approaches the king.
Neh. 2:1-5 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, (we take note that this expression gives evidence that Nehemiah’s decision to petition the king was a risky one!) And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
“Then I was sore afraid.” We should remember the setting back then… the situation was a lot more serious than one of us going to our boss to ask for a raise or something of that sort... Under autocratic rule, if you offended the king, or made it appear as though you were manipulating him, your life could easily be forfeited! Remember the account of the Baker who offended Pharaoh in Joseph’s day (Gen. 40).
In fact, it was Artaxerxes who previously issued an edict against Jerusalem which is recorded in Ezra 4:8-24.
So, here we have Nehemiah who, having determined that an important work needed to be accomplished, is ready to put his life on the line as he petitions the king! And, in marked contrast to Nehemiah’s initial prayer that consumed him day and night—we have in verse 4 what may be the shortest prayer recorded in Scripture. This occurred in the moment between the king asking Nehemiah what he wanted—and Nehemiah’s response: “So I prayed to the God of Heaven…”
Again, we note—not only the importance of petitioning God first—but that Nehemiah did so in spite of not being certain how the King would respond! With that, Nehemiah makes his request known to the king, and the king responds in what perhaps was an unexpectedly positive manner. For Nehemiah describes the king as being “pleased” to send him!
How often do we find, that through the weaknesses of our flesh we become apprehensive and fearful, only to find that the LORD’s arm is never short, and He can make that which seems insurmountable, as if it were no obstacle at all…. We’re reminded of Jesus’ admonition in Mt. 17:20:
“...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Or, in John 15:7:
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Would we be as committed to make a decision to participate in a work if the stakes were as high!
Our THIRD example:
How about a circumstance in which one is compelled to make a decision to serve the LORD by: 3 going contrary to civil authority.
Consider the account of the Three Hebrew Children (Dan. 3) In reading the Biblical account we’re brought into the thick of things almost immediately. We find that Nebuchadnezzar has constructed an image in the Plain of Dura, to which he expects everyone to pay homage. The dream he previously had, that so impressed him, perhaps was one factor that influenced him to build the image. But, we might also conjecture that the Chaldeans were also ready to exploit the circumstance for their own advantage.
You will recall that Daniel and his companions were elevated to prominent positions of favor as we’re told in the account “over the affairs of the province of Babylon” (Dan. 2:48,49). And, as Jews, they of course, held contrary religious views—views that would be seen as a threat by the Chaldeans! So, we surmise that the Chaldeans had much to do with the enactment of the law that would be used to target the 3 Hebrews.
Dan. 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
It is interesting to note that the Chaldeans first labeled Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—by identifying them as Jews. This would presumably make it less of a problem for the King to render a harsh verdict. After all, they were Jews—they were, as it were, strangers and foreigners—they would not be sympathetic to the King’s religious views…. As a matter of background—the Chaldeans, were from the land of Babylon and were considered learned men in the fields of science and religion—being, as it were, a priestly class. Had they not gone out of the way to inform the King of the 3 Hebrews, there would have been no Chapter 3 in the book of Daniel!
But, they did inform the King, and no doubt desired that the King would render judgment according to his own decree…. Going contrary to civil law is not something that a Christian by nature is accustomed to do! In fact, to the contrary, a Christian for all intents and purposes is law-abiding and respectful. But, what if you found yourself in a circumstance where a law was enacted that your faith deemed to be contrary to conscience and principle? Would your conviction be strong enough to make a decision to obey a higher law to which you were held accountable?!
While civil disobedience, is not something to be indulged in; someday--we, like others of the past— may find that we can do nothing else but disobey civil law!
There are even natural laws that illustrate the principle that higher laws can, in fact, supersede the general laws of nature. If the law of acceleration did not supersede the law of gravity, we would be forever bound to earth!
Our FOURTH example:
How about a circumstance in which one is compelled to make a decision by 4 continuing in a pattern of public worship.
Consider the account of Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Dan 6). In this account Darius the Mede is persuaded to make a decree that no man should petition any other god, or man for 30 days. The idea of petitioning another was specifically targeting Daniel, who was known for his worship of and prayer to, his God.
At the time, the suggestion sounded reasonable to the King—but when it caused Daniel to be an offender—the King regretted that he had made such a decree. Albeit, according to the law of the Medes and Persians it was unalterable; and thus was Daniel handed over to the Lions. The lions, of course, were not just the ravenous beasts in the pit!
In the 4th verse we find that they premeditated Daniel’s demise:
Dan. 6:4, 5 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Whether there was any fault to be found, or not, was clearly not the issue. They had it in for Daniel, just as there were those that had it in for Jesus, and their intent was to craft a circumstance in which it would be perceived that Daniel was guilty of a capital crime—that is a crime that would require that Daniel be put to death! And, so it was that they were successful in seeing that the King would enforce the law in spite of the King’s affection for Daniel.
Daniel did not compromise his manner of worship to avoid persecution or prosecution. To what lengths might we make a conscious decision to keep our priorities in order—and, at what cost?
Our FIFTH example.
How about a circumstance in which one makes a decision by 5 speaking out against civil and religious authority.
Consider the account of the Beheading of John the Baptist.
Here we find that Herod has taken his brother Philip’s wife. As recorded in Mark 6, beginning with verse 18, John tells Herod:
Mark 6:19, 20 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
As the account unfolds we find that Herod is manipulated by Herodius. Even though Herod views John as blameless, nevertheless, because of an unanticipated promise to Salome he finds himself obligated, for expedience’ sake, to dispatch John.
Mark 6:21-27 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto
the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
John obviously was not a wimp. He was clearly an outspoken character—particularly with regard to the religious leadership of his day. But, it wasn’t until the time presented itself, that John seized the moment to speak against civil authority as represented in the person of Herod. Would we be as quick to seize the moment? Would we be as outspoken? What decision would you make?
And, the last example, but by no means the least…. a circumstance in which one is compelled to make a decision which will result in 6 being brought as a sheep to the slaughter.
Consider the account of the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus.
In contrast to earlier portions of our Lord’s ministry where he plainly stated that he came not to send peace, but the sword—and, where he also was clearly outspoken—and even demonstrated his zeal when he took a whip in hand to drive the animals and the money changers out from the Temple—there came the appointed time when he would travel a different road—one that would take him to his death!
Is. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Matt. 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed…
Matt. 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
To be not only, ready and willing, but to be zealous on accomplishing that which was written of him, concerning his death—is utterly astounding! Our Lord had no intention of missing his appointment with his adversaries—even death itself! And, consider that this was done in the same context as his response to Satan himself!
Matt. 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Obviously, concerning ourselves, we could not withstand our adversaries—even if we wanted to— but, we could take our sacrifice off the altar! The question is—will we be prepared to make a decision—to leave it on the altar?! Will we be quiet before our accusers when the time for our demise approaches?
The common thread to all of these examples—is that the choice was one that involved life and death. Life from a spiritual perspective—but death to the flesh!
Let me repeat; life from a spiritual perspective—but death to the flesh!
These accounts have been recorded, not merely to arouse a sense of admiration, but to warn us and fortify us of things to come! To be examples for our admonition!
We believe each of these accounts, as well as others, speak of that time—yet ahead of us—where we also will be in a position to make such a decision!
David’s decision to resist Goliath and to take a stand for the LORD and righteousness is one that we are fighting with every day. Solomon wisely stated that:
Prov. 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
That is to say—there is another road that one can travel which also amounts to a life and death decision. But, the end of that road deserves no glory or praise!
If we are not careful we could find ourselves in the awkward position of realizing that a lifetime of decisions rendered consequences that we had never imagined! Those decisions may be of the small seemingly inconsequential sort—or, they may be those that were of the giant or Goliath sort—that we never stood up to! It can be stated no better than it has been by our Lord himself:
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Nehemiah’s decision to engage in the work of rebuilding Jerusalem is one that we should be undertaking daily with our sword in hand—even as was the case with Nehemiah as he faced his daily threats. Yet the clear and present danger facing the Laodicean Church is that there will be many that are lukewarm. Are we too lax in our service and degree of interest and enthusiasm that we might allow a breach in the walls of our faith to let the enemy in?!
How can we expect to have a part in the work of Smiting the Jordan, as typified by Elijah, if we are not preparing ourselves spiritually to be ready to perform such a work?!
Will we like the 3 Hebrews be prepared to make the decision to go contrary to civil law where such law, or laws, goes contrary to conscience and principle? And, will we be prepared to do so under the penalty of death? Will we be ready to have the cords of flesh consumed, as were the cords that bound the 3 Hebrews?
Six stages of the Gospel Age Church have endured extraordinary hardship, suffering, and death. What could possibly lead us to believe that we would be an exception—particularly when the Scriptures testify to the contrary?! Even the Great Company at the very end of the Age is described as Rev 7:14 …they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Paul also reminds us that:
Heb. 12:4 Ye [We] have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
And that:
Acts 14:22 …we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Daniel made a decision to continue to worship his God even when it was clear that death would be the consequence. Is it any wonder that Paul gives us the council?
Heb. 10:24, 25 …let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Will we be even alert enough to see “the day” let alone “dare to be a Daniel?”!
John was not ashamed or timid to proclaim a message when it was due—even if such a message was one that struck a raw nerve!
Do we on a daily basis seize the moments?
2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
1Pet. 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
In a prophetic sense will we be ready to denounce an illicit union of far greater proportions?
Is. 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Or will we draw back?
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words… of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
From his earliest decision to come here to earth to be made flesh, to his decision to permit his adversaries to take his life it is evident that our Lord was fully aware of the consequences. Are we taking account of the warnings and the encouragements that the Lord himself provided for us; that:
Luke 12:11 And when they bring you [us] unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, [that we will] take ye no thought how or what thing ye [we’ll] shall answer, or what ye [we’ll] shall say:
Or, as expressed in Romans:
Rom. 8:36 … we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Revelation 17:12 describes a time when Church will unite with State—not as it historically did for 1260 years—but, nevertheless, to once again be a persecuting power over the LORD’s people.
Rev. 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
It is no mere coincidence that the accounts concerning Daniel, the 3 Hebrews, John, and our Lord ALL illustrate the fact that there has been, and once again will be, such a conspiracy against the LORD’s anointed.
The Adversary will use Papacy and Protestantism to coerce Civil Government into becoming, albeit unwittingly, the executioner of the Feet Members. And, the entire matter will be, as it was with Jesus, expedient.
As we sit here quietly in our meeting, this may seem far-fetched—the result of an overactive imagination! But, so was the idea of putting a man on the moon, or that pieces of the demolished Berlin Wall would be sold as souvenirs, or that the Soviet Union would be dismantled, or that Islam would become such a dominant influence in the world—or, that we would be occupying Iraq, etcetera.
Just as there were those who influenced the passage of laws in Daniel’s day for evil intent—do not discount the likelihood that there are such individuals in this generation! Many of the freedoms that we have enjoyed under our democracy have already been eliminated or jeopardized with the passage of the Homeland Security Act. This Act gives very broad power to the legislative branch of the Government, particularly the President, to take any action deemed appropriate, if it is believed to be in the interest of national security. The Patriot Act goes one step further by allowing the government to monitor where we go, who we see, and even what we read…. The attitude that was behind the labeling of Daniel and the 3 Hebrews as Jews is not much different than the attitude that imprisoned those of Japanese descent here in America, during WWI…What Civil Libertarians have fought for, over the course of decades, is quickly being reduced to ashes with a simple stroke of the pen and an Executive Order.
And, to top matters off, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a populace that is fearful is often willing to give up personal liberties in the interest of safety.
In the big picture, as God’s Word informs us, these misguided and misinformed efforts to stabilize society will in reality, pave the way for the complete demise of society as we know it.
Our Lord was talking to each one of us when he said:
Matt. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Matt. 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
The terms and conditions are explicit:
2Tim. 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.
In conclusion:
Decision-making is not always an easy task. It often requires deliberate thought and evaluation.
Wrong decisions can lead us out of the way as easily as right decisions can keep us in the Way. Never underestimate the importance of developing a pattern of good decision-making. Because, in the final analysis--we may well be facing a Deadly Decision.
1Cor. 3:19–21 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether … LIFE, OR DEATH, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
Russell Shallieu
