Making the Right Choice – audio

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Introduction

Have you ever been faced with a decision of two options, one having a reward now and consequence later, and the other one with consequence now and reward later?

For example, go into a restaurant and look at the menu. “If I eat junk food now, I’ll pay for it later; on the other hand, if I eat this salad that I don’t like, it will help me get healthier.”

Body

I. Text: Hebrews 11:24-26.

Moses had a choice to enjoy all the pleasures of Egypt, and could have even grown up to rule over it. Instead, he chose to suffer with the children of Israel.

Why? He “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Moses did make a mistake, though. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own brethren. When he learned the matter was known, he fled from Pharaoh (who sought to kill him) to Midian (Exodus 2:11-15).

II. Moses valued the reproach of Christ.

Moses understood what it meant to suffer. Even though it may be difficult to endure, it is well worth it for the cause of Christ. Later the Hebrew writer says, “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come (Hebrews 13:13-14).”

The apostles “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).”

Paul also said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (1 Corinthians 12:10).”

Peter links the sufferings of Christ to the glories that would follow (1 Peter 1:11), and encourages Christians in this way: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified (1 Peter 4:14).”

III. The reward outweighs the sufferings.

As Moses understood, Paul explained: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).”

Just imagine how sin has its pleasures, yet eternal consequences.

The sufferings of Christ may seem like suffering, yet has eternal rewards.

Conclusion

We are faced with spiritual choices every day. 

What will we decide – to enjoy something sinful and pay for it eternally, or stand up for Christ and enjoy eternity?

Remember the words of Joshua: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15).”