From the moment our day begins until it ends we make choices. Choices are amoral, that is, being neither moral nor immoral. Like sins, however, choices carry consequences.
First John 1:9 gives partial relief to the repentant sinner: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This promise, however, does not remove the consequences of our sin or bad choices.
To illustrate this point follow this fictional story.
While working at my desk in my second story office I saw a man pass by my window – on the way down to the ground. As he was passing by he yelled, “Help!”
Immediately I raised the window and said, “When you hit the ground, and if you survive the fall; come up to my office and let me see what I can do to help you.”
As you read this you may be thinking that was not a kind and compassionate thing to say. But, before you judge me evaluate the situation.
If I had grabbed the man’s arm and could have held on to it; I could have separated his arm from his body. If he survived the fall he would have been floundering on the ground while I was holding his arm out of the second story window. That would not have helped him a great deal except attempting to do so may have broken his fall allowing him to survive – thankfully he survived anyway.
If I had grabbed his leg I would have perhaps been pulled out of the window and landed on top of him as he hit the ground. I don’t know that would have helped him in the event both of us were severely injured.
But, to make the story have a positive ending he survived the fall, with minor cuts and bruises, and was able to climb the stairs up to my office.
As we waited for the response to our 911-call I engaged him in conversation.
“Sir, the first time I met you was immediately after you had made a major choice in your life.
“When you chose my roof from which to carry out your plan you did not know this was the residence of a Christian counselor. Even so, once you set your action in motion I was powerless to do anything for you until after you hit the ground.
“Allow me to back your story up as I believe it happened.
“You were walking down the street in front of my house. You must have been troubled about one or more matters since upon seeing my tall house you decided to jump from it as a possible way to escape from facing your troubles. It was under these circumstances we met.
“Now, if when you saw my tall house and you had knocked on my front door to get permission to do jump from the roof I would have invited you to come in. I would have informed you of my ministry and would have sat down with you and discuss your alternatives. Jumping from the roof would not have been one of them.”
The moral to the story is this, before making irreversible choices that could have devastating consequences seek out a mature, competent person who can render objective counsel.
The majority of people with whom I counsel I meet after they have made one or more unfavorable choices.
New Hope Counseling Service is a free service in this community, and beyond, through Skype.
Next time: Problems Are Solutions in Disguise
