Xtreme Choices

This is no ordinary day in Hawaii. You can almost feel the tension. There isn’t a cloud in the sky, the sea is a brilliant turquoise blue and people and cameras are lined up along the beach. A handful of the world’s best tow-in-surfers are ready for the big wave that could possibly get them the next cover shot, or even the $ 60 000 prize for riding the biggest wave of the year. The stage is set.

 

All of a sudden there’s a scramble as a monster of a wave causes the horizon to disappear. There’s shouting and excitement from the shore and the jet skis and riders are jockeying for position.

 

This is it, the moment that Luke has trained and waited for his whole life. It’s a big one, a really big one! He is in the perfect position – the jet ski is pulling him into the wave at 80 km/h and all he has to do is let go of the towrope, and then victory will be his. But wait, something is going on, he hasn’t let go. Oh my goodness! He has decided to hold onto the rope, he has waited too late! The monster comes crashing down on top of him and eats him alive, ripping him apart onto the beach.

 

Granted I may be exaggerating just a little with the part about the monster ripping him apart, but this is a common scenario we witness every year while making our Extreme sports TV shows. We see great athletes making the wrong choices and having to face the consequences and many times losing out on the reward they could have received if they had made the right one.

 

Kind of urges you to think about everyday life, doesn’t it? We’re all faced with choices from the moment we wake up, choices that range from something as what to wear that day, what to do with the 24 hours and even who to hang out with. Life is full of choices, some of which are more crucial than others.

 

In the Bible, Joshua was faced with the choice, but he made up his mind when he started; ‘’Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness, throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the river in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord is undesirable for you then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord.’’

Joshua 24 14 – 15.

 

That day, he decided and made a deliberate choice that he was going to serve God no matter what. The key word is deliberate. This is when we not set only our minds to decision, but stick to the choice we have made beforehand no matter how strong the temptation or influence might be in persuading us to do what we know is wrong or contradicts God’s Word.

 

Take our big wave tow – surfer Luke for an example – he had a choice to let go of his towrope and ride a big wave, or wait just a little bit longer and reap the consequences, which in his case was a big bad wipeout. In the same way, we are faced with similar choices that affect our lives.

 

Often we hang onto a relationship with someone that we just know is a bad influence on us, all the time thinking, ‘’Okay, just a little longer. I’ll let go soon’’ – but all of a sudden our world comes crashing down. if only we had let go earlier. But God is so merciful and gracious because even when we mess up He still knows the awesome plan and purpose that He has for our lives and sets up back on track by giving us another chance.

 

How can we make choices that will affect out future?

• First off, choose friends that have integrity.
• Choose honorable, moral people to be accountable to and whom you can go to with questions that could determine your future.
• Recognize the roads that are leading to disaster early on. You know which ones they are.
• When in doubt ask yourself: what would Jesus do?
• Never be too proud or afraid to pray. You might never know unless you ask.

      If you pray be patient, He will give you the answer.

 

(Taken from Truth Magazine April/May 2004)