Tough Choices – Hard but necessary
“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (NLT) Hebrews 11:24-26
I so remember in 2008 when Martin Luther King’s Dream of a Black American taking over the reins of power in the arguably the most powerful nation eventually came to light. Not only was it a watershed moment for Americans but the election of Barack H. Obama as the President of the United States took the world by storm.
In a widely watched televised address, Barack Obama inspired a nation that was in the quagmire of recession. He promised his people that he will lead them out of the meltdown but he didn’t mince words when he said that America could only reverse the debilitating economic conditions if the nation would muster up courage and make tough choices.
Now, even though the GOP would have none of it, the American economy has been restored to its former glory and it is on an upward trajectory. Obama was opposed severally by a house dominated by his opponents but he stood his grounds and made some tough choices for his nation.
Tough choices are austere and painful. It means sacrificing the short term inconsequential desires and pleasures that easily fades away and building a life that is beautiful in the sight of God; a life that is consequential and that transforms lives, especially for God.
Just look at the people who have literally transformed our lives with their talents and gifts. Instead of hibernating in their comfort zone, doing the barely enough, they were ready to forego their own pleasures for the good of many. The lives they led were larger than life.
In the Bible, Moses was a classic example of somebody who made the tough choice of being referred to as the Prince of Egypt but rather the deliverer of his people. He was able to do that because as the Hebrew writer said “he was looking ahead to his great reward”. To make tough choices you have to set your eyes beyond the horizon and not be bogged down by the fleeting pleasures of short term choices.
This new year, examine the choices you make and ask yourself some critical questions: “What will happen 20 years down the line if I make this choice?” “How will it benefit posterity?” “How will it transform lives for the better?”
Steve Jobs decided to lead a team and build products that will change the world and we all know that Apple products are amazing. As Christians, God expects us to do better:
“Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground” (NLT) Genesis 1:28.