Authority of Choice

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Body

Making a Choice between Heaven and Hell

One day not too long ago a Human Resource Manager was tragically knocked down and killed by a bus. Her soul arrived at the Pearly Gates, where St. Peter welcomed her “Before you get settled in we have to solve a little problem. You see, we’ve never had an HR manager make it this far before and we’re not really sure what to do with you.”

“Oh, I see,” said the woman, “can’t you just let me in?” “Well, I’d like to,” said St. Peter, “But I have higher orders. We’re instructed to let you have one day in hell and one day in heaven, and then you are to choose where you’d like to go for all eternity.” “Actually, I think I’d prefer heaven”, said the woman. “Sorry, we have rules...” at which St. Peter put the HR manager into the downward bound elevator.

As the doors opened in Hell she stepped out onto a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club; around her were many friends, past fellow executives, all smartly dressed, happy, and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks, and they talked about old times. They played a perfect round of golf and afterward went to the country club where she enjoyed a superb steak and lobster dinner. She met the Devil, who was actually rather nice and she had a wonderful night telling jokes and dancing. Before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everyone shook her hand and waved goodbye as she stepped into the elevator. The elevator went back up to heaven where St. Peter was waiting for her.

“Now it’s time to spend a day in heaven,” he said. So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds, playing the harp and singing; which was almost as enjoyable as her day in Hell. At the day’s end St. Peter returned. “So,” he said, “You’ve spent one day in hell and you’ve spent one day in heaven”. “Now you must choose between the two. Which one will it be?” The woman thought for a second and replied: “Well, heaven is certainly lovely, but I actually had a better time in hell. I choose Hell.” Accordingly, St. Peter took her to the elevator again and she went back down to hell.

When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends dressed in rags, picking up rubbish and putting it in old sacks. The Devil approached and put his arm around her. “I don’t understand,” stuttered the HR manager, “The other day I was here, and there was a golf course, and a country club. We ate lobster, and we danced and had a wonderful happy time. Now all there is, is just a dirty wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable.”

The Devil simply looked at here and smiled. “Yesterday we were recruiting you. Today you’re staff.”

www.purposefocuscommitment.com/funny-storymaking-choice-between-heaven-hell/

Recent overturn of Roe V. Wade

It was nationally legal and okay, now it’s determined by the states

Did we as a nation get it wrong before, or are we wrong now?

Who gets to determine that?

Even though it’s no longer national law, there are some who believe it ought to be

When it was national law, there were some who believed it ought not be

Where do we get our values from?

Parents?

Friends?

Society?

Government?

History?

Philosophy?

Religion?

Science?

Myself?

What are “values”?

What we “ought to” do and what we “ought not to” do

Then where does the “ought” come from? The “Moral Impetus”?

AUTHORITY!

Some things about authority

It is delegated from higher to lower and some source must possess inherent authority

The delegated is given authority over a specific sphere of activity

The inherent has absolute authority over everything

[Structure of Walmart]

It needs to be recognized by those under authority - we must submit ourselves to that authority

Why? Why do we submit?

Fear of consequence

Hope of reward

We naturally agree with the authority

We are, in a sense, autonomous, in that we must choose which authority we will recognize

Which authority we recognize, or submit to, will provide the “oughts” to our values, or our morality. At least, that’s what we believe!

In a larger sense, our worldview is basically determined by what we choose to recognize as authorities in our lives

What does that mean? It means I need to answer some questions:

Who gets to determine right and wrong?

Who get to make the rules?

Who gets to set the “oughts” and the “ought nots”?

Our worldview will be determined to a large degree on how we answer these questions

Do I get the authority to determine right and wrong all on my own? If so, where does that authority come from?

What if my ideas of right and wrong clash with your ideas of right and wrong? Who wins out?

Does the government get that authority? Where does the government get that authority?

From the people? Where do they get it?

Because government has all the guns and the military?

Does it come from majority rule?

If so, why? Who determined that? Who gave the majority that right?

What happens to the minority?

In each of these possibilities, there exists no compelling reason for me to submit

You can force me to at gun point (might makes right), but then all I need to do is gain superior force, then I become right

You can berate me and ridicule me and shame me into accepting your doctrine, but again, that’s basically a societal gun point

If you have to force someone to believe as you, do you really have a compelling worldview?

“The greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people” - one definition of morality

What if the greatest amount of people we can affect is two or three in ten thousand? Does that qualify?

What does “good” mean? Who defines that?

Framing the question another way:

Is it wrong to go into a mall and start shooting people? Why? Who gets to determine that?

Is it right or wrong to throw people in prison for robbing a bank so that they can get medical care for a sick daughter? Why?

Is rape right or wrong? Why or why not?

Because you say so?

Because the government says so?

Because majority opinion says so?

So what? Why am I obligated to follow what they say? Why ought I submit to their morality?

According to scripture, there are two masters we can choose to serve. Two authorities we can choose to recognize

God

Satan

There are no other choices

Myself is not an option

Success is not an option

Baal is not an option

Every other choice is really a choice for Satan

Matthew 7:13-14 “13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Joshua 24:15 “15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

God wants us to make a choice, a decision, and then every day thereafter, manage that decision.

So why would we be compelled to choose God?

We have to choose someone

He provides the moral impetus to obey

Can enforce His will anywhere, anytime

Has eternal consequences, good and bad

He possesses absolute and inherent authority

Why would someone be compelled to choose anything else?

Deception

Emotional wounds and hurts - blame God

A belief that God focuses on what you cannot do while the enemy focuses on what you can do

NOT TRUE! The enemy will tell you all kinds of things you can’t do

Live holy

Be free of addictions and bondage

He will tell you live anyway you want, but when you want out, he won’t let you out

We are autonomous in this area! We get to choose our master!

These choices can be made easier or harder however

Comment on story illustration

Conclusion

Who we choose to submit ourselves to, that becomes our master

If Satan, you can expect a short time of pleasure followed by a lifetime of bondage, misery, and regret

If God, you can expect a short time of valleys AND mountaintops followed by an eternity of pure bliss.

When you’ve made a decision, you must daily manage that decision

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This really is our choice: Eternal death or Eternal life

The authority we recognize in our lives will determine which one we choose

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