The Verdict of Decisions

By Pastor MacDonald Apreku

Every life has beginning. Your life began when two people a man and a woman or one of these two decided to cause an act. That act could be a well-thought-through event or a random one, by consensus addendum, or otherwise. What is certain is that either one or both parties made a decision, whether it was a good one or not, one thing is indisputably certain; you are a product of decision. Decisions are constant requirement, without which nothing can happen. However, decisions making is just the beginning of big things you will encounter. May it be known when you make decision; you are just stepping into the unpredictable waters that lead to unprecedented ends. These ends nonetheless may vary due to certain factors. When you were born, you were born into a complex school""the world. You are not the victim of the school; instead it is your decisions that make you a winner or a loser or yet still a victim. In the world of decisions, the only promising school principal is wisdom. In all your getting, get understanding and be cautiously guided by wisdom. Remember, your decisions on anything is your verdict on that thing. The decisions you make are your life's silver bullets You may make a personal decision nonetheless; the outcome will no longer be a personal one. Life is like a journey; how far you go and what you become is unquestionably marry to your decisions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781098000868

Book preview

Chapter 1

Decisions Impart Choices

Decisions are the fundamental basis for all daily activities, actions, and inactions revolve around decision.

The importance of this subject in human endeavor have unpredictable lasting bearing not only on your life but also the lives of others around you both far and near, related or not related; therefore there is need to crave for an overwhelming passion in dealing with this distinctive subject. Some decisions we face in lifetime are quite trivial; nonetheless, they still involves a selection between two or more alternatives and should be treated with the same higher measure of value; for instance, what to eat for breakfast, whether you take coffee, tea leave, cereal, rice pudding, etc. These are but trivial decisions human make almost on daily basis. Subsequently there are other decisions that consist of major life transforming matters which yields indelible positive or negative mark on our lives or in the lives of those around us either in the present or future. Typical example of this principle is seen in the book Genesis.

And the Lord God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:16 and 17)

How do human race come to this current state of predicament? The anguishes, wickedness, frustrations, marital challenges, diseases, infirmities, unsatisfaction, death, teenage and adolescents challenges and millennial crises, simply by Adam’s singular decision that he made.

Note in Genesis 1:31; the scripture says God examined everything that he created, and behold everything was perfect.

This means prior to man’s wrong decision everything was excellent. Evil was not there. There was also no intension for immortality at least according to the scriptures; the law of man’s mortal life came into existence by the decision to eat the forbidden fruit. Simultaneously with that single act, man migrated from paradisiac state with perhaps the possibility of living forever, into the present state, with the certainty of dying. The decision of one man; Adam initiated a new condition and the composition of things, which then commenced, not only against Adam and Eve, but also the posterity after them was subjected to the implication of their decision. The fundamental laws of the material world was given to Adam to established for all time and seasons; the word of God as read in Genesis two was equally a law which contained condition, not only for the day in which Adam broke the commandment, but for all men everywhere as long as the world shall remain. Being the father of human race; he had the privilege to preserve his integrity and all humanity by his decision of judgment. Perhaps Adam didn’t realize when he decided he was as a matter of fact pronouncing a lasting verdict upon human race and as a result altering all things into a different course of activities.

Adam Decided Your Death; You Decided Your Life

Whatever decision you make ultimately imparts the choice you make. That is why every human should judiciously guide their will because the will man possess is the most powerful gift God gave to human. To a very large extend no one have control over your will. The Serpent did not have control over Adam’s will. He negotiated a deal with Adam’s wife to arouse wrong desire for unnecessary appetite. Whatever decision you make emanates from your will, which also communicates the choices you make. It is this same will that made God decided to create man in His own image and likeness; He exercised the same will to design and create the universe and all that is in it. He use the same will man have to design laws that govern everything.

When man applies the will power, he unavoidably becomes creative and innovative. He also initiates a journey that will determine his life—blessing or curses. Will is powerful and is the rock layer of decisions. Adam had full responsibility to adhere to the unwritten commandment of God by a determined decision bearing in mind the consequences that may follow thereafter would be ineradicable.

The first unwritten law given by God to human was the law of freedom and liberty:

And theLord God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. (Genesis 2:16)

Statue of Liberty as a matter of principle brought no liberty to Americans nor to the world; it is the statue of sightseeing. The true law of liberty is the law of God’s word. Adam failed to observe it and he together with all human race died.

The only remedy to Adam’s decision which led to death is again based on your decision. In Adam’s decision you were liable for the punishment of death, in your decision you are liable for the grace which leaps you from death to life. In other words, Adam decided your death; however you decided your life.

Adam through his vicious decision decided your death, but through the grace which is found in Christ; you decide whether to remain in that state of eternal death or be translated from eternal dearth to eternal life.

The second unwritten law given by God to man on the day of creation was the law of restraint, self-discipline, or obedience to God’s rulership. Self-discipline determines quality of life one lives. The Bible says one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control. If you have self-control, you will gain favor of God on earth. Obedience begins with the law of self-restrain. Self-restrain means to take charge of your life purposefully. It also means to make decisions according to the laws of God.

But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:17a)

The third law was the law of death—the implication here is that though death was also part of God’s creation, it would not be able to feed or kill man as long as man remains loyal to God’s laws. In other words, this death was without power and accordingly had no authority over Adam and all his posterity. Thus death was subject to man base on man’s obedience to the precepts of God.

For when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:17b)

God created death with intention to remain under the authority of man as long as man remained obedience to the commandment of God. Obedience is so important because it determines your present and future life. In fact, God created everything with intention for man to have authority over it; being lions, tigers, death, poverty, impunity, barrenness, and so on but decision of disobedience altered this primary intent of God.

The decision of disobedience resulted in all creation of God to work against man; lions that hitherto were friendly to human suddenly became a threat. The land that yielded healthy and pleasant croups for human suddenly ended up in the atmosphere of yielding prickles. Death which hitherto was harmless and without effect just like all other creation now became harmful both physically and spiritually. Decision to disobey is the lawless act that gave dearth and all evil the threatening power over man.

Adam and Eve now suddenly found themselves running from lions, tigers, etc.

Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates, and other water bodies was exposed to tsunamis, hurricanes, ice-storms, sea hibiscus amongst others.

Animals and human life was suddenly exposed to diseases, sicknesses ailments, infections, and viruses that hitherto were alien to man.

Death started killing and murdering people. Like sheep they are laid in the grave, dearth shall feed on them (Psalm 49:14a).

Lawlessness is living without regards for the law. The word lawlessness in the Bible is often translated iniquity. According to the Bible, the source of all lawlessness is rebellion. This means that any form of lawless act (sinful) is traceable to rebellion. Adam rebel, he died together with humanity. The twenty-first century generation is engulfed in massive rebellious acts. Don’t forget every step you are taking is born out of decision. Decision of one man resulted in every pain the world suffers. The question is, the steps you are taking now, are they divine? Are they beneficial? The ultimate should be; what does the Bible says about it and not what do you say about it? What impart will it leave on others? Maybe Adam never thought of it this way. He didn’t consider the effect of his decision on others.

Every Law Require Elements of Decision; to Obey or Not to Obey

First John 3:4 defines sin as lawlessness: "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin simply is lawlessness." Satan patterned sin, leading to the ultimate rejection of God. Anyone who rejects God is following the exact foot step of Satan. God’s rejection by Satan was due to his failure to recognize and follow His principles. Indirectly it is a coup d’état Satan staged against the creator and the owner of the universe.

When man uses things God created to invent anything he put his name on it and patent it. God owes all things. But the glory should be given to God. The Bible has it that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). The natural meaning of beginning is in reference to time. The primitive Greek root means to be long, to draw out. Thus, it is used to refer to some point of time long drawn out, or long past. As such the true meaning then can be in the eternal past. Long ago before time commences, God existed and in the appointed time He created the universe for his pleasure and the pleasure of human. The decision to live according to His word is the highest honor you may grant to God and reward that proceeds from it is the blessing of grace. Grace is the highest blessing of God. Eternal life is as the result of the work of grace. Without the grace there is no eternal life. Grace makes possible all blessings of God. You desire success in any area? Decide the path of obedience first.

Every Law Requires Elements of Decision and Choice

Whatever path you tow deep seated in your heart lays decision, that decision has in it the braces of choice. Example if you run through a traffic light, you made a dangerous decision and it is called lawlessness. The repercussion can have dare consequences. When the police caught you the first thing you say is Oh, God! The devil is at work. In this scenario, was it really the devil? Absolutely no! You were driving and not the devil. Secondly you have your will to make up your mind to stop thus obeying the law and be free from the grips of the law yet you decided otherwise. Even in the case of Adam and Eve, Satan did not force Eve to eat the fruit, neither did he force Adam. The devil gave his presentation to Eve and she willingly decided to eat the fruit leading to their perpetual anguish. What transpire between Eve and the Serpent was like a TV commercial you sit in your home and watched and after it appealed to your eyes, you decided to buy the product. The advertising company did never force you. They only tell you about the product, you decided whether to believe them or not. What would have happen if Eve had told Satan! Go way from me or yet still it is written? The Serpent would have no choice but to leave her alone and that would have allowed man to continue to live in glory and honor. The same devil came to Jesus in the same fashion, but Jesus’ simple reply was it is written. Meaning away from me Satan, for it is written: Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8. Jesus didn’t argue with the devil.

The same way the devil went to Eve, he went up against Jesus. Thus the scripture clearly stated, For as in first Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The only difference between these two accounts is decision. Jesus knew he was not on earth for himself alone but for every human origin and failure for him to live in obedience would bring doom, a thing perhaps Adam didn’t consider. The devil has his game plan but you have your will power. The devil have his strategy but you have control over your decision. Jesus decided for the path of obedience. You can’t prevent the bird from flying over the roof of your house but you can prevent it from making its nest on your roof. As a student you can’t stop unserious collogues from distractive activities but you can decide not to be distracted. As a parent you can’t decide or determine what the media put out on air for consumption but you can decide what your family watch. If you fail in any area or run into trouble don’t blame anyone but examine your decisions. Your decisions are a major factor of any outcome you ever encounter in any area.

Being a youth is not your decision but doing the right thing as a youth is your decision.

Being born a male or female is not your decision but maintaining the principle and values of that sex is a definite decision in this polarize world.

Maintaining quality principle is an awesome decision to ever make.

The Devil Has His Game Plan but You Have Your Will Power; Who Owes Your Decision Power, the Devil or You?

Although no country allow people to drink and drive yet many people worldwide drink and drive, and often they will say What harm is it? No big deal, I got home safely and no one was hurt in the process. Because you made it safely to your bed or home does not mean that you’re making the right decision. It does not mean it is right. Neither does it mean you are clever. It is not wisdom either neither is it smartness. When you took first dope and it didn’t hurt; it does not mean it won’t hurt forever. When getting behind the steering wheels having drunk, take note that you are making a very consequential decision that will not only affect your life but also the lives of other road users that may come across you while driving, your friends and family people are all involve to some extent, even your country. Everything human does or say generates from a statement of thought and is release by the force of decision. Decide not to do it, decides not to say it, decide to say no, decide not to behave that way and it shall be.

Alcoholic beverages are dangerous. Alcohol is a strong drug just as cocaine, crack, opioid, nicotine amongst countless names. The abuse of these have power to reduce human into inhuman in terms of reasoning ability. Alcohol like other mentioned drugs are well able to affects and change man’s judgments, vision, walking, and perception all which are required to drive or operate auto mobile normal and properly. It also affects all areas of your responsibilities in a very depraved way. Of course, you may be drunk and it’s easy to think you are driving normally when in the actual fact you aren’t. You fell you drive well because your brains are numb. I drive, and I can testify that driving itself requires lot of work, judgment and intelligence. To drive, you need your alertness: you are using your eyes, ears, legs, hands, serenity, self-composure; the complete five senses are needed in their best form to be able to drive safely. No matter what, remember your life is very important. You need to be in control when driving, this is only possible when you have sound mind devoid of alcoholic substance, however, when drunk driving, you are no longer in control instead a drug called alcohol is driving the vehicle through your frail senses.

People ignore all these counsel and go ahead to drink and when there is trouble, they scream the devil is against me whereas the wrong decision to drink is responsible for any fatal result. This is same in many distressful situations human plunge themselves. If you understand what the Bible says about drunkenness it will help you make a better decision to safe yourself and others, at the same time avoiding the blame game. If you got drunk the devil has no hand in it. Make decision not to drink and see if the devil is at work or you are at work. You can also choose to work against the devil by choosing not to drink and get drunk or not to do other drugs and by so doing being in your best frame of minds. Believe me, even Satan knows if you are in your best frame of mind, you have total control of your life, this helps you stay away from any trouble and his manipulations. You can go to all counseling sections but the greatest way of dealing with the illness of drunkenness and drugs addiction is making a tough decision against its use.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever