Black & White

Published on May 01, 2008 by Brent Eldridge

I make a TON of decisions everyday.  Some days, I feel like I’m making decisions nonstop.  Most of them are small, like, “should I wear this shirt or that shirt”, or “should I stop and fill my car up with gas before work, or wait until lunch”, or “should I listen to this CD or that CD on my way to this meeting”.  On and on they go.  All that to say, small decisions are always before me.

Amidst all the small choices that people like you and I make all the time, there are bound to be a few (or even more than a few) choices that need to be made which will be monumental for our lives.  There have been more than a few times in my life when I’ve had to make a decision to do the right thing…or the “other” thing – whatever it might have been.  Back in high school I had to make decisions about whether or not I should go out and party with my friends.  “Should I smoke pot with them?” “Should I have sex with my girlfriend?” My friend’s got all the answers…”should I cheat on this test?” 

Heavy questions.  Heavy decisions.

I’m so thankful that to each of the questions above, I chose to take the “high road”.  I gladly hung out with my friends, and if they started drinking, I’d just split.  Most of the skaters and surfers I ran with back then smoked pot.  Again, they were good friends, but if they went there, I’d just disappear, not wanting anything to do with it.  There was a lot of pressure to sleep around just like some of my friends, but I decided to save myself for my wife, Kristin.  I’ve always been thankful that she chose to do the same for me.  I took an “F” in a math class that landed me in that class again the next year.  My friend thought I was CRAZY for not doing what he did – but I’ve never regretted it.  

I was fortunate to have great parents that spoke into my life about high moral character.  I was fortunate to attend a youth ministry where I learned the importance of walking with God.  I was fortunate to have an early awareness of the life that God wanted for me.  One where He was “The Boss” and I was His for the leading.  

Now, before you bronze me for all of my high marks, let me tell you that I’ve made my fair share of poor choices too.  So many times that I wish I could have back.  You know – “do overs”.  Friendships I ruined.  Pride that kept me from learning more from my mentors.  Impatience that got the best of me and caused me to freak on my friends or parents or whoever.  Sometimes you don’t know how bad of a choice you’ve made until you can get away from the situation and really think about it.  I’ve had lots of those.

You may be interested to find out that opportunities to make bad choices don’t get any smaller as you get older.  No, those poor choices are still just around the corner.  In fact, I still have to make choices everyday that are either going to please God or displease Him.  I can’t think of any moral decision, which I am responsible for making, that is in that “gray area” – where the choice will “kind of” please God, or it might “sort of” bring Him glory.  

Character decisions – the ones that mark me as a person at the core of who I am, are always black and white.  Each of us makes these types of decisions, and each of us must learn that we will live with consequences of the choices we make.  It’s just like Galatians 6 tells us.  If we “sow to the Spirit”, we reap all the best things in life.  If we “sow to the flesh” we reap all that we deserve.  Sometimes it’s a complicated life.  Sometimes it’s a broken relationship.  Sometimes it is a very painful feeling or remorse for doing something stupid, or careless, or wrong.  Every time we make one of those types of decisions it chips away at our hearts.  When we are faced with a “black and white” decision as to whether or not we will honor God or forget about Him, and we choose to “forget about Him”, something happens to us.  Have you ever felt it?  It’s a painful, shameful feeling of disgust aimed at ourselves.  It’s no fun – and it’s about the last thing in the world God wants for us.

On the other hand, when we do the right thing, or “sow to the Spirit” as Paul says in that passage above, we get an entirely different feeling on the inside.  You see, every opportunity to sin is also an opportunity to build character.  And, when we choose to build character, it builds a stronger heart…a stronger conscience.  It brings honor to God, and He honors us in return.  

Those black and white character decisions that we all make, all the time, are so vital for our spiritual growth.  When we bend our consciences and make choices that clearly defy scripture and the God who has given it to us, we become spiritually unhealthy.  Too many of those decisions render us seemingly ineffective as Christ-followers.  But, when we go with God on those choices – when we honor His word and thus honor its divine Author, we get more and more healthy.  

I HATE being sick.  Nothing bugs me more than having to sit on the sideline of any day and watch it go by because of the flu or an injury or whatever.  On the other hand, I love being healthy. I enjoy working out and running in the hills near my house.  I love playing sports and just taking a day head-on!  The same rules apply for my spiritual health.  On those black and white choices, I’d like to be 100%.  I know the benefits of choosing to honor God, and I pray that I will make more and more of them as my life goes on.  It’s not natural for our sinful humanity to choose the better of those black and white decisions (see if you, like me, can identify with Romans 7:15-20). But it always is best!

I guess when it all comes down to the wire, God is very interested in the decisions we make.  He is always aware of whether we are honoring Him or ignoring Him.  When it comes to those black and white decisions that ultimately build up or destroy our character, the choices we make matter to Him.  Maybe you’re in a spot in your life where you are being forced to choose which way to go on a black and white issue, (that is, to honor God or not).  Can I send a vote your way that would simply convey – do the right thing.  Turn over a new leaf.  Try it God’s way – the best way.  Watch Him honor your life.  Watch as your spiritual health gets stronger and your heart gets more courageous to be His man or His woman.  

Everyday, decisions are always before us.  And the only thing they need is a choice.  

What will you do?