When one purchases a new motor vehicle, an owner’s manual is provided by the manufacturer. This manual provides all the information and instruction necessary to ensure that the vehicle performs to the highest level of performance and longevity as the designer has envisioned. The owner who faithfully follows the manual in care and operation will be fulfilled.
Now, the owner has a choice. He could follow the manual diligently or not. If he is negligent he will find that the vehicle will not perform as advertised; and will more likely be found in the repair shop instead of on the road. If he radically diverges from the manual; ie: filling the gas tank with perfume(because it smells better), rather than the appropriate recommended fuel, then it will not operate efficiently. It won’t operate at all.
We too come with an owner’s manual that instructs us on right living. Instructions that guarantee a contented life with an ordered purpose for which we were meant. These instructions are the Natural Laws. They originated from a designer as well. The designer, GOD, has embedded them in our consciences and written them on our hearts. This manual can be found on two stone tablets, in the Beatitudes and the golden rule. But especially is found on Calvary.
That same choice of adhering to the vehicle owner’s manual or not, also applies to our own life manual. We can do what we ought or do what we want. When we listen to and follow our conscience, our heart will be at rest. If we choose to turn a deaf ear and do what we want, based upon a relativistic viewpoint, then we are not doing our conscience which results in an unsettled heart. Because when we avoid the natural, we get the unnatural. In truth, we are then living lives contrary to that which God has intended.
Manuals are not meant to control us. Rather they open us to true freedom. Freedom from all the bad things that are the result of bad choices. You are always free to choose. You can choose to commit to the manual or ignore it. One choice puts you on the road, the other puts you in the repair shop. One choice leads to eternal happiness the other to eternal sorrow. It’s your choice-choose wisely.
CROSSROADS-Right Choices 