If you have been in a hospital and had an operation you know about informed consent. As it turns out, when they talk about practicing medicine they really mean it when it comes to surgery. They are practicing! We would like to think that the results are guaranteed but often they are not. Often they are giving us the best chance for success, but they always have to mention all the potential things that could go wrong. We still go ahead with it, but somehow they feel better by telling us.
There is something about knowing all of that stuff up front that makes us feel better as well. We kind of have the opportunity to back out at the last minute. We seldom do because usually whatever has caused us to submit to the insanity of being knocked unconscious while people cut on us is far worse than the remote potentiality of experiencing the negative side effects. They are just potentialities we figure, and the chances are they won’t happen. Happily that is most often the case, which inspires great trust in the medical profession.
It is a far different situation in our spiritual lives. The biggest reason is that we are not given a set of potentialities we are given what the actual results will be. On one hand if we go this direction we will have life. If on the other hand we go this other direction we will have annihilation. There is no 75% chance of life, or .01% that you might not experience annihilation. The results are completely certain, 100% in both directions. Ultimately it is up to us. The way is provided for us to experience 100% life or 100% death. The only question is , when given such a choice what will we choose.
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
~ Ezekiel 18:30-32
See you at church
Pastor Chris
