Right smack dab in the middle of my desperate situation when I can only see the forever of impossible. Where it hurts the most. Where things are as dreadful as they’ve ever been. As I stare in the face of defeat for the foreseeable future. Right there, in that moment, is where I make a decision.
I remember in high school I purchased a yellow folder for the new school year with papa smurf on the front. The folder had a quote on the cover that resonated with me. Even then. I carried the folder proudly despite being a teenager in high school that easily could have been subject to ridicule. The smurfs weren’t a cool movie back then. They were a Saturday morning cartoon. One, theoretically, that should have long since been a memory. A fading memory at that.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
I don’t remember why that quote resonated so strongly that I carried it around. Regardless of the why, I asked myself, to be or not to be. What would I be.
Today, I have asked myself the same question. In this moment, we are deciding, moment by moment, day by day, action by action, thought by thought, and decision by decision.
To be or not to be, that is the question. The question at hand. One we are answering either passively or actively. Nevertheless, we are answering.
In the chaos of this world, we are choosing to be or not to be.
Choosing, to be part of the world, or not to be.
Choosing, to be part of Christ, or not to be.
Choosing, to be faithful, or not to be.
Choosing, to be steadfast, or not to be.
Choosing, to be hopeful in Christ, or not to be.
Choosing, to trust his sovereignty, or not to be.
Choosing, to believe death is a lie, or not to be.
Choosing. We are choosing. To be or not to be.
As I pondered what my witness, walk, and actions are choosing in what seems like the most dreadful time of my life on this earth as I for the foreseeable future am concerned about the path in which humanity is choosing; what am I choosing. To be or not to be.
I was reminded today in scripture there have been times that others faced seemingly comparable seasons of their generation where they chose to be or not to be faithful, steadfast, trusting, hopeful, remaining in Christ, and choosing him above all else.
I’ll share.
Israel. Exodus 2:23 tells us many years had passed and the king died. Still yet, the Israelites groaned beneath the burden of slavery. They cried out for help & their pleas of deliverance rose to God. God heard their cries & remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, & Jaacob. He looked down at the Israelites & felt deep concern for their welfare. Exodus 3 goes on to tell us while Moses was minding his own business in a field, God showed up in a burning bush, calling him into action. Sending him to deliver Israel.
Now, I don’t know the time span between the Israelites desperate cry for help and God arriving as a burning bush to call Moses into action. But, I would imagine there remained days the Israelites continued to return to the daily grind of slavery between their pleas rising to God and the arrival of Moses & Aaron.
I would suggest that we consider, however many days there were, the Israelites made a choice. To be or not to be. Faithful, trusting, steadfast, hopeful in God, remaining a part of God according to his laws, and choosing God above all else.
Daniel. Daniel 9 & 10 tells us about a vision Daniel had where he clearly understood the desolate circumstances in which Jerusalem was going to be. He began to plead, fast, and pray for God’s mercy for his people. Daniel 10:2 tells us that Daniel had been in mourning for 3 weeks when finally the messenger came to him with an answer. He said for 21 days (3 weeks) I’ve been fighting to get to you. God sent me the minute he heard your prayer because he loves you very much.
In this instance, we are given the time frame between Daniel laying on his face before the throne to the arrival of the messenger. 3 weeks. 21 days. During every one of those days, Daniel had a decision to make. To be or not to be. Faithful, trusting, steadfast, hopeful in god, remaining a part of God according to his laws, and choosing God above all else.
Israel. In 1st Samuel chapters 16 & 17 we read the story of the Israelite army facing the Goliath & the Phillistines. They stood paralyzed in fear listening to the taunts of a giant who led an army of their enemy ready to destroy them. The bible tells us, 40 days and nights Goliath shouted threats at them. They were terrified.
But, David, a shepherd boy, who had been anointed to be the next king shows up. Hears the taunts, threats, and mockery of God. This is where David had a choice to make. He’s been anointed, called, and serving his father as well as Saul. I would suggest – he answers the question, to be or not to be in this moment. To be or not to be radical, bold, confident, and willing to put it all on the line for the God he loves more than being king.
Friend, as you stand and look at the world around you today, ask yourself, to be or not to be, that is the question. What shall my answer be. Will I be faithful, trusting, steadfast, hopeful in Christ, remaining committed to be His people, called by His name, and choosing Christ above all else. Even as I look at what seems to be for the foreseeable future a hopeless worldly situation.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
I would like to suggest today, that you answer the question, and then be steadfast in your decision as the victory of Christ is on the horizon. He’s working, right now, on your behalf. You may not be able to see it just yet, but he is working. Right now, he is calling into action his people called by his name, on behalf of this land. Choose today. Bobbie
2 Chronicles 7:14
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
