Choices are powerful. We are a
product of our choices. Little ones, big ones, seemingly insignificant ones—the
sum of which all add up to you. What intrigues me most about choices is that
they affect our “now” and our “not yet”. In other words, our choices affect our
today and our tomorrow, and our tomorrow’s tomorrow. I believe when we live
with that in mind we are able to make more empowered choices in the moment.
I’ve learned choices that are made with only the present in mind tend to be
shallow, self-centered, and empty. However, choices that are made with the
present and the future in mind generally tend to carry value, purpose, and
destiny. It’s the dual reality in which we find ourselves. Every decision we
make affects our today and our tomorrow.
Hezekiah was a king in the Old
Testament. His story can be found in 2 Kings. As I was reading about this king
recently, I was struck by what happened to him. Allow me to summarize: A
Babylonian envoy was sent to King Hezekiah. Hezekiah decides to show the
Babylonian envoy all the storehouses of the Israelites, including the treasure
rooms. This was a mistake. He exposed the precious things of the people of God
to the enemy. The Babylonians leave and the prophet Isaiah is sent to Hezekiah.
Isaiah tells Hezekiah because he did this, his sons would be servants and
eunuchs in the house of the king of Babylon. Now that’s bad news. Hezekiah’s
response is staggering, he says to Isaiah, “ “The word of the Lord that you
have spoken is good.” For he thought, “ Why not if there will be peace and
security in my days?”” (2 Kings 20:19). Hezekiah was making a decision for the
moment. Because he chose to live for the moment, his children would become
slaves to the enemy. He failed to see how what he did today affected his
tomorrow. Be careful you don’t fall into the same trap.
Perhaps the dual reality in
which we find ourselves is best articulated by Maximus. Though it may be
cliché, the quote proves true—“What we do in life, echoes in eternity”.
