Decisions, Decisions

A man isn't made by the big decisions in his life. We tend to believe that our lives are determined by the "fork-in-the-road" moments or places we refer to as "turning points." However, we are not where we are, nor who we are, because we came to a fork in the road and took it. Life isn't that simple. Who we are (as well as where we are) is a complex matter. It involves the little decisions, as well as, the big ones.

Unfortunately, we all make over the big decisions, because often they (for obvious reasons) leave the more lasting impression. Take a person who has a life altering encounter with Christ. Through the preaching of the gospel, and its application by the Holy Spirit, they have come to reject sin and trust Christ. This moment, monumental as it is, however isn't an end in itself. We aren't just saved, we are saved for a purpose (that we might be conformed into the image of the Son).

The Spirit's work of bringing us to faith, through the conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment, and the regeneration of our fallen will enable us to flee the coming wrath by fleeing to the waiting Savior. But, the Spirit's work of illumination, conviction, and regeneration are not terminated upon acceptance. What I mean is that the Spirit continues to illuminate, convict and renew through the process of sanctification. True, the work of salvation as it relates to justification is one time pronouncement by God. He declares us to be justified through faith in Christ, but the Spirit continues to work out the righteousness through us by the process of sanctification.

That brings us back to our initial statement: a man isn't made by the big decisions in life. That is, such characteristics as integrity and faithfulness don't come by means of big decisions. One doesn't get up one morning and decide to have integrity (although, God in his grace may awaken a desire to develop integrity in a person). Becoming a person of integrity is the accumulation of thousands, possibly even millions, of little decisions. Whether it is keeping a promise, even to one's own detriment, or claiming all the income you have made in a year on your taxes (especially when no one could trace some of it), integrity is something built up over a long time.

While it may be true that a man isn't made by the big decisions in his life, he can be quickly undone by them. A man who has walked in integrity most of his life can destroy his reputation in a moment by yielding to temptation. For this reason, the Scriptures continually call us to be watchful. The little stuff matters. Never believe the lie that no one will find out. God already knows and he warns, "You may be sure that your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23b).