By: Larry Young
How often do people make poor choices by ignoring the opportunities for good that they are given? Last week’s article regards the “Mystery of Iniquity” concerned two critical choices made in life…and acted upon, that determines a person’s eternal destiny. Later, I was asked to consider situations in which a person doesn’t respond or do anything at all. I know a practicing SDA Christian who fits that description well. Upon receiving their electric bill each month, this person simply ignores them. A threat letter and some phone calls later from PGE, the electricity was to be shut off. This same person bought a high end new car, but upon receiving their monthly loan premium, they simply ignored them. A few threat letters and phone calls later from the bank, this same person now hides their car from the “repo man”… and this situation continues to this day. This person is not destitute nor poor; they are simply redirecting their resources to a tempting investment that may or may not ever pay dividends. So, did this person make or not make a choice by doing nothing?
I believe this person did indeed make a choice by not doing anything! I look back at my own life and the choices I have made, I must admit that I made some very bad ones by simply not doing anything. The real question is: Are we excused and off-the-hook if we simply ignore making a choice and doing nothing? Doing nothing IS INDEED A CHOICE! Some call it the “Ostrich Syndrome” by sticking one’s head in the sand. Many books have been written on this one subject alone. So let’s put this in the context of the Christian experience and outcome.
The “Mystery of Iniquity” is defined in part as the choice that the majority of people on this planet make to be eternally lost. When confronted with this truth about their non-relationship with God, they stick their head in the sand, claiming that they can’t be held responsible since they didn’t do anything. Not so! Jesus spoke to this in the parable of the “Wedding Feast” (Matthew 22: 1 - 7, 14): “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
God calls us and encourages us lovingly, persistently, and strongly to respond affirmatively to His invitations. Ignoring God’s calling and doing nothing indeed becomes a clear choice… with eternal consequences. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1: 15-17)