No Decision Is a Decision

The friendly, red and white stuffed bull with a black hat and nose, caught my eye. It sat on the shelf of the Stanosheck Hardware Store and Mortuary in Osmond, Nebraska. The clerk saw my young eyes staring at it. He reached to pull it down. “Let me show you what Ferdinand does,” he said. He tipped the bull backwards and then righted him again. He did just what you would expect any bull to do – he bellowed! I was hooked. I was already enamored with stuffed animals that lived on my full size bed, but they were all the silent type. And, a bull was unique. I’ve always gone for the different and here it was …the cutest smiling, bellowing bull I had ever seen. I must have swallowed the desire to have Ferdinand right then and there because I felt it ooze to the tips of my fingers and toes. From then on out, I reminded Dad of his need for nails, bolts, tools…whenever we went into town. I knew it was just a dream to have Ferdinand as my own, but I still wanted to see him every chance I got.

On July 20th I opened my eyes to a new morning. I wondered what was in store for this special day – my birthday. I rolled over in bed and shrieked with joy. There sitting on my dresser smiling at me was Ferdinand! I jumped out of bed, grabbed my new friend and hugged him tight. He answered back with a deep bellow. Fifty plus years later, while cleaning out Mom and Dad’s house, I found Ferdinand sitting on a shelf again – high in the closet of my old bedroom. I hugged him again and to my surprise he could still bellow.

The intense longing I had for Ferdinand dims in comparison to the desires of the rich man described in Luke 16. He sits in hell pleading to Abraham in heaven to let the beggar, Lazarus, bring him a drop of water to cool his parched tongue. What the rich man experiences is unimaginable desperation; my longing merely a want. Abraham denies the request, telling the rich man that a huge chasm that cannot be crossed lies between heaven and hell.

Most scholars agree that this parable was told by Jesus to teach two things: the dangers in ignoring those in need (as the rich man had when Lazarus sat at his gate hoping the rich man would give him a morsel of food from his table) and to give those in need hope. I get this, but the visual of where these two men live out their eternal lives (forever and ever) is what impacts me the most. It’s almost more than I can bear – to think of anyone I love spending every minute of every day – forever and ever – in torment. (Rev. 14:11)

But, I am also consoled by the truth that no one has to join the rich man if they choose not to. Ah…the golden word – choose. There is eternal security in heaven available for anyone that believes in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16) Not making a decision IS making a decision. You can’t follow Jesus without an affirmative choice to do so. I pray that each one of my readers will choose the best path and enjoy an eternity of blessings.

Until next month – Keep on readin’ and I’ll keep on writin’.