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“IT'S ALL ABOUT CHOICE”

The Choices of Ananias ( Acts 9:1-19 )

Opening Illustration: “A big choice from ‘The King of Torts”

For about two weeks last month, I had the opportunity to travel and work alongside several people from John Ward's company, doing the work they do... and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well, before one of the flights, I picked up the latest John Grisham paperback… I needed some mindless reading material after some pretty intense stuff… preparing this sermon, preparing our two newest series' for FATHOM… our Sunday night Student Ministry times.

I started reading this book and came to page 92 and the main character came to a point where he was offered a whole bunch of money to represent some clients. He was offered $10 million... but he could never talk about the case or how the whole thing played out. All he had to do was keep a deep, dark secret. $10 million! That's a lot of money! I won't go into the decision he ended up making, partly because I don't want to ruin the book's ending for you, but mainly because the dilemma this character found himself in was the same many of us often come to face, at any given moment… the dilemma of choice.

This morning, we want to take a look at two men who had choices to make… and some essential truths about the human dilemma of choice that we can learn from their experiences. Because, after all… it's all about choice. I want us to specifically look at four truths about choice.

And here's the number 1 thing about choice…

#1: Everybody has choices to make.

David had choices to make. (2 Samuel 11:1-2) à David has a choice to make… we see a string of choices starting here for David. He had the choice about where to be during the spring and now, he's got a choice to make regarding his purity.

Ananias had choices to make. (Acts 9:10-12) à Right here, we see Ananias given a choice… how will he respond? How will he react? He's just been given an order to go and pray for a killer of Christians?

Illustration: “Morgan Freeman in ‘Lean on Me”

Each of us has choices to make. There's a line in a movie I love… Morgan Freeman says, “ The only things I have to do is stay black and die! ” when he's told that he has to help calm a mob of rioting students. And you know what? That's completely true. In this life, there are only two things that we must do… that we have no choice about – every person must leave this life for the next through the process of death. That's an essential truth. And every person in here must live with the ethnicity we have been given… the heritage we've been given. Another essential truth. Some people joke and say, “I have to pay taxes!” Actually, no you don't. You can not pay taxes and get arrested and sent to prison… but it's still your choice.

I love to hear people tell me, “I didn't have any choice!” Because the thing is, you do have a choice. That sport or academic activity? It's all a choice. Nobody makes you take up sports or band or do good or bad in your classes. Nobody makes you take that job or turn down an opportunity for ministry. Students, when you choose to take part in that sport, that choice will mean that other things like academics and church and family drop down one place on your list of priorities. And that brings us to our second point…

#2: The choices we make will reflect our priorities.

David's priority was lust and disobedience… his pride. (2 Samuel 11:3-5) David made choices… and they reflected his priorities. He flushed every ounce of his integrity down the toilet for those particular choices.

Ananias' priority was obedience. (Acts 9:15-17) à Ananias made a choice… he did what God said to do, when He said to do it. Didn't waste time, didn't hem and haw. He made the choice to be obedient.

Illustration: “My passing on Super Summer opportunity”

I've told the story to our students many times about when I was a senior and the choice I made between Super Summer and a writing camp for the top young writers in Texas and how now… I kinda' wish I had been at Super Summer instead. I made a choice and… I can look back now and tell you that it was the wrong one. We all have moments like that, don't we? When we make a choice that we want… or that we're put in the position to make because of previous wrong choices.

When we set up priorities in our lives, our choices will reflect those… they'll show those for the whole world to see. If we make the choice to make a sport the primary priority in our lives, then guess what? Our choices will reflect that… they'll show that. If we make God a priority in our lives, then the daily choices we make will reflect that… or if we don't, likewise.

I'm continually amazed by people who come to me and say, “Ohhh… my life is so bad! Ohhh… things stink right now!” Oh, okay. Well, did you read your Bible this week? Did you pray? They usually look at me like I just suggested something new and exotic.

I've heard athletes say “ My record speaks for itself! ” What that's referring to is that an athlete can point back at his/her scoreboard and not have to make explanations, excuses or make promises. Instead, their past choices of training, practicing and discipline have resulted in success on the playing field and that displays their priorities for all to see… success on the playing field is a priority for them.

Coming up, you have the choice about whether or not to participate in “40 Days of Purpose.” As we heard from Bother Clay, there are three levels of participation and in order for these 40 Days to be effective, we need to choose to take part in all three, personal, small group and church-wide. Doing just one or two of the three won't give you the full extent of the results you could see. Folks, let's be honest. It all boils down to choice. We do what's important to us… we make time for the things that are important to us.

Beloved, you have a stellar opportunity to grow closer to your church family, your family that attends church, your spouse and anyone else willing to go through “40 Days of Purpose” with us. Parents, you have the opportunity… the choice to grow closer to your children spiritually. They'll be following along through the book at the same pace as everyone else. On Sunday mornings I'll teach the students about it and then on Sunday nights, the student ministry will have it's small group time at my home. My roommate Josh and I have been painting, cleaning and more just to get it ready for the big day! I'll also be hosting the Young Singles at my home on Friday nights. And it's not just those age groups! Every age group and life situation of the church will be reading and studying the book, meeting in small groups and committing to attend on Sunday mornings to seek to answer this question… “What on Earth am I here for?”

As Christians, our lives serve as scoreboards for a world that needs and wants to see godly lives lived out. What does your scoreboard say? What choices have you made? What priorities do those choices reflect?

Here's the third thing about choices…

#3: Our choices affect other people.

David's choices didn't just hurt him. They also affected everyone who knew him and about the situation, Bathsheba, his army and it really affected poor Uriah.

Ananias' choices affected more people than we can count, because Saul became Paul and Paul became one of the greatest evangelists who ever lived.

Illustration: Scene from “Spider-Man”

In a scene from “Spider-Man,” we see Peter Parker, Spider-Man, making a choice and guess what? It's the wrong one. Now, granted, at the time, it was the choice that felt right… but did he know better? Probably. But the saddest fact of this scene is that Uncle Ben was affected by Peter Parker's choice. He was there, waiting for Peter, and the robber that Peter chose to allow to escape murdered him.

That's right. And that's probably the thing that makes the biggest impact, at least for me. A lot of choices I make will affect other people… if I choose not to prepare for a Bible Study, then chances are I won't be able to effectively communicate exactly what God wants me to. If someone makes the choice to commit murder or rape… you know what? Their choices will affect other people.

If we choose not to make godly choices at work or at school or even at home, that will affect other people and in turn, it may influence their decision about whether or not to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Now, keep in mind… everyone has to make that choice for themselves. And you're not responsible for the choice they ultimately make. But, your choices will influence their choices and that will, in turn, affect their lives. If you choose to participate in “40 Days of Purpose”… that will affect other people… the people you live with, work with, hang out with… it's not just about you.

And here's the last thing about choices…

#4: Ultimately, I am responsible for the choices I make.

Ultimately, David became accountable for the choices he made. All of his story was laid out and bare for people centuries later to see.

Ultimately, Ananias became accountable for the choices he made… and I believe God rewarded him greatly for it.

There will come a day when each and every one of us will be accountable for the choices we have made, are making and will make. Now, that time may come at different points for each of us.

Some will face consequences for their choices the very next day. Others will never see the outcome of choices they've made until we go home to be with Jesus.

What choices are you making right now, in your own life?

What priorities are those choices reflecting?

Who are those choices going to affect?

Are you prepared to accept responsibility for those choices?

And most importantly, are those the choices that are going to make the most out of the choice Jesus made for each and every one of us? If you're a Christian, then we now must make choices accordingly. Jesus says that He came to give us abundant life… but the choices we make can limit that sometimes.

We have the choice to follow after Christ and make choices that will glorify Him and please Him… the neat thing is that every day is a new beginning. Every day can be a new, different choice to follow after God and to please Him. We get to start over each day and make all new choices that could please God…

What choices will you make this morning?