It has been wisely said that “it is choice not chance that determines our destiny.” The fact is that we are where we are today primarily because of choices we have made in the past. Furthermore, we will be where we are in five, ten, or twenty years—and throughout eternity—based on choices we have or will yet make.

Floyd Lane, a talented basketball player who attended City College in New York in 1951, accepted a $3,000 bribe to shave points in just three games. Because other players were doing this, he decided to go with the group.

Big mistake. He and the other players got caught, arrested, and expelled from school. For the next 23 years he was unable to get a job as a player or a coach in sports because of what he had done. Finally, in 1974 his old college employed him as a coach.

When we make mistakes, which we all do from time to time, it’s encouraging to know that we still have the choice to put things right. Fortunately, when we admit what we have done, God forgives us. And where possible, where we have hurt others, we need to make amends for what we have done. We also need to forgive ourselves. The important thing is to think first, pray, and make wise choices from now on.

And most critical of all is to choose to accept God’s forgiveness and his gift of eternal life (if you haven’t already done so), as this choice is absolutely essential to guarantee that you spend eternity with God. Whatever else, DO NOT leave earth without God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life. For help, go to https://learning.actsweb.org/christian.

Prayer: “Dear God, please help me to make wise choices in everything I do—especially in choosing to love and serve you all the days of my life, and where I will spend eternity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Joshua 24:15.