The Consequence of Free Will
Greetings and good morning, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This morning we seek to understand the consequence of free will.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Consequence of Free Will
"Jesus said: Nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou will." Mark Chapter 14, Verse 36
Brothers and sisters, in today’’s broadcast we explore the consequences of having free will. Free will is the gift that the heavenly Father has given so that we may have a truly free choice of choosing him. We do not have to choose him, we may choose to abide by our own will. But in any case, there are consequences to whatever choice we make. This will is absolute in the moral and spiritual arena. No one may choose for us. This morning we want to explore some of the consequences of free will.
Oftentimes we watch in horror and dismay as our newly liberated young adult children wrongly choose. Often they don’’t appear to be aware of the long-term consequences of their moral and spiritual choices. Some of these failures to recognize consequences of moral and spiritual decisions spring from their failure to recognize the moral and spiritual arena as bonafide areas of reality. And sometimes this failure springs from lack of thinking through moral and spiritual decisions. If a person does not recognize the validity of moral and spiritual decisions, then that person is not likely to spend any time reflecting on whether he should make a given moral or spiritual decision or not. They are more likely to choose their wills.
As we watch them go through the consequences of making wrong choices, we suffer along with them. We feel their pain and have nothing but compassion for them. We love and continue to love them, but there is absolutely nothing we can do to change the consequences of their moral and spiritual decisions. What are the consequences of making wrong moral and spiritual choices? The first is a sense of disappointment, followed by depression. Then comes despair as the reality of moral and spiritual reality is realized. Then follows the loss of self-esteem and of a sustaining purpose.
One then might ask, ““what was my motive?”” There may have been material factors associated with the moral and spiritual choices that were made, but those lead to disappointment, for they do not supply the necessary values and meanings that a moral and spiritual person requires for a sense of integrity. We may be able to change some of the material factors associated with making wrong moral and spiritual choices, such as transferring them to another area, or providing financial support if that is needed. But a warning is in order here: If parents remove the material aspects of the consequences associated with the wrong choice, they may delay the so-called liberated adult from recognizing the nature of their error. But even so, removing the material consequences associated with the wrong choice does nothing to alter the consequences of the wrong choice in the moral and spiritual arena. It is as if someone murdered a person and got rid of the body and all the clues associated with the crime. The crimes still lives on in the moral and spiritual consciousness of the individual, creating all kinds of havoc.
Often, this loss of self esteem and sustaining purpose may require a long time to heal because the individual continues to ignore the error, or does not recognize the source of the problem. All they know is that they feel bad and unworthy. This sense can drive them on to more wrong choices as they try to deaden the exquisite psychic pain associated with wrong moral and spiritual choices. Or they can go on to recognize their error and repent of it and regain their moral and spiritual status by not only recognizing the realm of moral and spiritual reality, but by choosing to abide by its mandates. They can choose to do the Father’’s will.
We must make moral and spiritual choices if we are to have meaning and purpose in our lives and if we are to survive this life. The Father’’s children must posses themselves of righteous characters by choosing right from wrong; they have to learn to appreciate divine realities. And this opportunity comes about because of our imperfections and those of our environment. These incompletions provide the effective contrast for us to choose good over evil, truth over error, and beauty over ugliness. The specter of the loss of temporal values and meanings drives us on to acquire eternal values and meanings. We must be tested on every point and found not wanting, even as Jesus was tested on every point. So we must choose wisely, which means to follow Jesus, who said: "Nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou will."
Let us pray and worship and rededicate and reconsecrate our wills to doing his divine will. Let us reaffirm our faith and trust in Him, and His divine plan for our lives. It is literally a matter of life and death, eternal life or eternal oblivion.
This concludes today's message on the consequences of free will. We hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Your Kingdom Come; Your Will Be Done!
The Consequence of Free Will
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
