Making the Hard Choices

Reposted from 2009 09 27

This weekend, I rented a couple films. I usually rent films once every 4 months. Not a whole lot I want to see these days. It's funny how God shows up when you're not looking for answers at times.

The films I rented were Dark Knight and Gran Torino. I watched Dark Knight yesterday and it got me thinking. There's an exchange between Bruce Wayne and Alfred. It's read like this:

Bruce: What would you have me do?

Alfred: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.

Watching this film got my mind working. Thinking about the road we take. Who is willing to make the hard choices? The choices others are afraid to.Then came Gran Torino. The film ends with the main character being the man to make the hard choice. So, what hard choices are there? Do I live in comfort and look like the rest of the world, or do I strive for something greater? Do I strive for promises that may never manifest in my life time? Go for what I have no promise in. No guarantees. With the hope that something good will come about.

In faith, we live daily with the promise that our treasure is laid up in heaven. As far into the future as I try to see, I don't always understand it. I'm glad that God hasn't told me I'm a prophet. I don't know what I'd do with future knowledge. Yet, in His word, God promises us that we have treasure laid up in heaven where it neither rusts nor is stolen. (Matt 6:20) I digress.

What I'm thinking about most is Christ. Christ has to make the hard decision. It was the choice that even scattered His disciples. Christ chose to die on the cross. Think about it. He was spread out and nailed to a large, wooden frame. His wrists had 4½ inch (11.5cm) nails in them. Christ knew He would suffer. Yet, endured. Christ knew He would be forsaken by His own, but endured. Christ went through what to this day is the worst death documented, yet, it was His choice. When His disciples split, He could've lifted Himself from the cross. Yet, He suffered.

I think about this because Christ went through so much worse, and yet in my own life I have to ask, what am I willing to risk? Am I willing to fast and pray for someone else's benefit? Am I willing to give the last penny in my account because God commands it? Can I wait on Christ for the manifestation of a prophecy?

I think about Abraham. He was told that he'd have a son of Sarah, but he went out and produced a son of Haggar. In hindsight,the choice to endure would've been much easier than the choice to move ahead of God. I think about this. My hardest season of enduring began on June 21, 2006. I found myself in a bind. I said to God, either you have to see me through this, or I'm cutting you off. For a year and a half, the choice to live in complacency was always there. The choice to step back and live comfortably in the world was always there. I'll admit, I was willing to give up for a season. Never the less, I choose to endure. I think now to the challenges that are before me and time (though we can fly quickly to action) isn't of the essence. The longer you endure, the sweeter the victory. Even during those nights when you're most tired and worn, choose to endure. Press on. The world isn't willing to make those tough choices because they love comfort, and not the Comforter (the Holy Spirit).