{"id":1059,"date":"2021-02-07T16:30:01","date_gmt":"2021-02-07T22:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1059"},"modified":"2021-02-07T16:30:01","modified_gmt":"2021-02-07T22:30:01","slug":"the-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/07\/the-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"The Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cThe Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.<\/strong>\u201d
2 Peter 3:9 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why do some people believe in Jesus, becoming a Christian,\nand others do not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God gives each person the choice<\/em><\/strong> to believe or\nnot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One cannot help but remember the brothers Esau and Jacob from\nthe Old Testament book of Genesis. They were twin brothers, yet they were very\ndifferent. From the events in their lives and the choices they made, one can\nsee that Jacob chose better, for he chose the things of God. Esau on the other\nhand, chose the things of this world and the satisfaction of his flesh. After\nhunting one day, Esau came home where Jacob was making some pottage. Esau was\nwilling to sell his birthright for a bowl of pottage \u2013 just to satisfy his\nimmediate hunger. After this, Esau took wives of the Hittite\u2019s, not God\u2019s\npeople. Read what his parents thought of this in Genesis 26:35: \u201cWhich were a grief of mind unto Isaac and\nto Rebekah.<\/strong>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short time later, Jacob received the blessing instead of\nEsau. Afterward, see the obedience of one brother, and the disobedience of the\nother. \u201c6. When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram,\nto take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a\ncharge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; 7.\nAnd that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to\nPadanaram; 8. And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not\nIsaac his father; 9. Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives\nwhich he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of\nNebajoth, to be his wife<\/strong>\u201d (Genesis 28:6-9). Jacob continued to\nplease his parents (thus pleasing God), and Esau continued to please himself\n(thus displeasing God).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Esau had many great possessions on this earth (see\nGenesis 33) and lived in the land of Seir,\nthere is insight given to us in the New Testament. See what God recorded in His\nWord. \u201cAs it is written, Jacob\nhave I loved, but Esau have I hated<\/strong>\u201d (Romans 9:13). We can better understand these words many consider\nharsh as we read the following verses. \u201c15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of\nthe grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,<\/em>\nand thereby many be defiled; 16. Lest there be<\/em> any fornicator, or\nprofane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his\nbirthright. 17. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited\nthe blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he\nsought it carefully with tears<\/strong>\u201d (Hebrews 12:15-17). The condition of\nEsau seems to be the same condition as one who rejects God and His Word,\nchoosing to please self. Note that this kind of person is one who sins against\nGod (in rejecting the gift of His Son, Jesus). Esau made his choice. Esau gave\nhimself over to the world and its\u2019 ways. When Esau \u201cfailed of the grace of God\u201d\nin this choice, he became a profane person. Esau so hardened his heart \u201che\nfound no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.<\/strong>\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you harden your heart, rejecting God, read the\nfollowing encouraging words. \u201cThe\nLord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is\nlongsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all\nshould come to repentance<\/strong>\u201d (2 Peter 3:9). God is not willing that\nany should perish. No one should harden their heart and not receive the Gospel\nmessage of Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor I am not\nashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to\nevery one that believeth \u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Romans 1:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose to please yourself, and in doing so fail of the grace of God, or <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose to believe\nin the Gospel of Christ unto Salvation.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is your choice!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>