Are You Responsible?
Over the years there
have been a number of different situations where I have had to be
responsible for making an important decision. Decision making
consists of receiving, researching, and responding. First, one must
receive
the information necessary to form a decision. Second, one must
research
the information received, making sure it is accurate. Third and
finally, after researching the received information, it is time to
respond
by making a decision.
This process to decision
making can be used for just about any decision that has to be made,
especially decisions regarding one's salvation. After all, it is a
Biblical approach! Consider Acts
17:10-12
Once Paul and Silas
arrived at Berea and started preaching, the men and women there had a
decision to make. What did they do? First
"they
received
the word with all
readiness" (verse 11).
They received the information they needed to make their decision.
Second,
they researched the information they received by "searching
the Scriptures daily to find out whether" the things Paul and
Silas taught were true (verse
11).
They didn't just take what Paul and Silas taught at face value;
rather, they researched the scriptures to make sure the information
they received was true.
Third,
they responded by making their decision. What was their response?
"Many of them believed..."
(verse 12).
When it comes to matters
of religion, the Bible, and salvation, are you like the Bereans? Do
you receive the word with all readiness
and then research
what you have been taught to make sure it is in accordance with what
the Bible really teaches? Or have you just taken someone's word at
face value and made a decision without checking? When it comes to
your salvation, you
are responsible!
It doesn't matter what I or anyone else tells you; it is up to you to
make sure the information you have received
is the
truth. On the Day of Judgment, each of us will be called to answer
for our decisions, and those who have made wrong decisions based upon
false or incomplete teaching will only have themselves to blame.