BY PASTOR BRANDON YOUNG
The Prophet Joel declared that multitudes were in the valley of decision, and this is still true today. We spend a lot of time making decisions. Some internet sources estimate an adult makes about 35,000 conscious decisions every day. We make 226.7 decisions of these decisions on food alone, according to researchers at Cornell University.
Some of our decisions are simple and easy while others are more complicated and complex. I wish I could tell you in my forty years of living, I have always made the right decisions, but that would be a complete lie. Unfortunately, I have made the wrong decisions from time-to-time and faced the consequences. While on this earth, Jesus made many decisions as well and all of them were important. I would like to take the time to discuss what I feel could have been his most important decision ever.
Luke 6:12-16 says, “12. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14. Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15. Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16. And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” In this passage, Jesus was faced with a decision that would shape the rest of Christian history. He was selecting 12 men who would be trained and carry on his ministry when He ascended back to the Father. He knew if he selected the wrong men, everything he worked for while here on earth might be lost. Where would Christianity be today if the apostles had failed, give up, and went back to their old jobs once Jesus returned to Heaven? We wouldn’t have the New Testament, we probably wouldn’t even know much about Jesus Christ at all, and the church would have never been established. God’s plan of salvation could have been lost to all generations without faithful and committed disciples. Given that Christ was going to entrust his ministry along with the health and wellbeing of the Christian church into the hands of these twelve men, this selection was critical. So, if we investigate how he made this crucial decision, we can use it as an example as we make daily decisions in our own lives.
First, Jesus was under much stress during this time in his life. His ever-present enemies were doing their best to destroy him. His teachings had stirred up so many people, they threatened the leaders around him. These leaders constantly discussed how they could finally rid themselves of Jesus. He knew they wanted him out of the picture, and he also knew the will of his Father was for him to die for the sins of all humanity. He understood once he died, resurrected, and returned to the Father that someone would have to carry on with his teachings. The scripture said he went out to a mountain to pray. He left the distractions of the world around him and isolated himself. He knew he had to spend quality time with His Father. While there, Jesus continued in prayer all night long. The next morning, he was able to go and select the twelve followers most vital in carrying out the ministry in His absence. Jesus provided us with a perfect decision-making model.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-8, “7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” If we follow this three-step process outlined by our Lord, our decisions will be Godly and righteous!
“Ask” — The thing we should do is to ask. When we have an important decision, we should pray and ask God to tell us what we should do. It seems so simple, but we make many decisions without consulting with our Savior, and then we wonder why things never turn out quite right. We must consult with God in all things through prayer. One of the most important aspects of wise decision-making is to recognize the value of good counsel. A consultation with the one who knows it all is in order before we decide to do or not do anything.
“Seek” — The next thing we should do when we have a decision to make is to look for the answer. Where should we seek an answer? The best and first place to look is in the Bible. The Bible is God’s true and reliable Word. We must consider the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit that lies within each of us that are followers of Jesus! We must stop and take the time to seek knowledge and refrain from rushing headfirst into any rash decisions that may have dire consequences. There is no doubt that God responds to those who seek Him first. If we stop and consider the Word of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord, a clear and accurate answer will emerge.
“Knock” — When there are several doors and we don’t know which to choose, we should knock on the door and wait to see who opens it. We should try the spirits to see if they be of God! If we don’t see the Lord on the other side of the threshhold, we should not walk across. Knocking helps us to clarify the right answer. Once we’ve consulted with God and considered His Word and Spirit, we should spend knocking on the doors that seem available as an answer. If the Lord stands on the other side of the door and we know it is His presence and feel His peace, then we can walk through knowing we made a godly decision. During this clarifying process, it’s vital that we remain open to hearing from the Lord as we invite God to speak into our lives.
True prayer demands all three: asking, seeking, and knocking! When you are faced with a difficult decision and not sure which way to go, be sure to be like Jesus spending ample time alone with the Father. I know we all hate waiting, and it feels better when we get an immediate answer, but we can never go wrong waiting upon the Lord. Whatever choice we eventually make, the fourth step in this process is courage. The unknown is often scary, and that initial step can be the most daunting of all. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” The Lord may not reveal the entire staircase as a part of your answer, but we must have the courage to take the hand of the Lord and step out into the realm of the unknown. The only way we can make decisions with confidence is to consult/ask, consider/seek, clarify/knock, and then with courage do what we know is right. Put the time, energy, and effort into all your 2020 decisions and you will be blessed by the results.
(The Solution Column is provided by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton, and his associate, David Odom.)