Making choices and changing God’s way

We are at political crossroads and the coronavirus pandemic compounds our challenges as individuals and a society. How we shall contrive and salvage our lives, remain safe and forge ahead progressively necessitates making the right choices. Choice and change or the lack of it, are inseparable: one is not only cause of the other, but inevitably also its consequence. Inspired by Exodus 30:19, John Bunjo of Christian Restoration Ministries International, has authored and published a must read and very timely book, The Power of Choice. It inspires and exhorts godliness, challenges, cautions and counsels while considering one option; as most preferred from many. Forget the common political rhetoric and sloganeering: choice concerns every aspect of our being, and therein, lies great consequential power; power within power.

We know that choices have consequences, but what perhaps eludes our knowledge is the fact that such consequences, positive or negative, are far-reaching effects, extending to the third/fourth generations from the initial actors. Also, quite too often, the inalienability of the power to choose is reduced to seemingly determined by man, simply as man’s willful discretion, but making reference to scripture such as Genesis 3 profiling The Fall of Man, Bunjo, ably and excellently illustrates that God allows freedom of choice, but, very quickly, also cautions that, if misused or offends God’s will for us, such freedom is recipe for disaster. Are you a parent or leader across the different spheres: civil; religious; organizational; or ordinary person at crossroads? Undoubtedly, this book ought to be your constant handbook for posterity and boundless godly influence. It is portable and can be read in one go, I just did. Almost every line is worth quoting.

For such a time as we are in, and reflecting on Israelites’ rejection of Theocracy preferring an earthly king like other nations that surrounded them (1 Samuel 8:4-7), Bunjo notes, “The Israelites decision to have a king was a revelation of the true nature of their hearts. They didn’t love God that much. This is seen in their history. Over and over, again, they rejected God’s will and almost always grumbled about God’s way. Their claim that they detested the behavior of Samuel’s sons was just a cover up… They wanted to become idol worshippers like the other nations, so having God rule them was an obstacle.” How genuine is our clamor for change or rejection of certain leaders?

But also, in their choices, personally or vicariously, leaders ought to know that they are answerable for the outcomes. Most leaders pride in a few glorious achievements and distance themselves from blunders of their reigns. Leaders decide for and on behalf of other citizens –for their wellness; and such decisions either shape or ruin the destiny of nations. Therefore, in all their choices –commissions or omissions, leaders ought to be exceptionally meticulous before any considerations are arrived at and/or effected. Bunjo emphasizes: “When you are faced with a decision to make, you must remember that the decisions you take will not impact just you but your children, your grandchildren, great grandchildren and ultimately the wider society. Decisions interlink generations… Nations are shaped by what legislators decide in parliaments.”

And especially for Christian Leaders –Uganda being predominantly Christian-led, Bunjo counsels, “A Christian is supposed to obey God in all the decisions they make. A lot of times, that means making decisions that agree with God’s written Word… God has given us His Word, the Bible, as the Manual for living as He desires us to…” While assuming leadership positions, we swear oaths holding the bible; do we serve by them?