Friday, 2/28/14
In the early 1900’s, there was a man by the name of Jose Rivera who was robbing banks and businesses around the Mexican border. The people in these towns got so weary with all these robberies that they hired a special ranger to track down this lawbreaker. After months of searching, the ranger came upon a desolate, beaten down cantina in a Mexican border town which he soon found out was Rivera’s hideout. He loudly announced to all the patrons that he was there to bring back Jose Rivera dead or alive. One young man pointed to a portly gentleman who with his hat over his eyes was snoring loudly sitting at a corner table. The ranger walked up to him, roused him from his sleep and asked him “Are you Jose Rivera.” When he realized Rivera did not speak English, he found a young man to be their interpreter. Deciding to give Rivera a break if he cooperated, he told the young man: “Tell him he has two choices. If he tells me where he has hidden the stolen money, I’ll let him go free but if he refuses, I will shoot him dead right here.” Once aware of his options, Rivera told the young man exactly where the money was. The ranger then asked the interpreter “What did he say” to which the young man replied “He said to go ahead and shoot.” (Source: “Can Man Live Without God” by Ravi Zacharias)
When you think about it, it was not the treasure seeking interpreter that got Rivera killed; it was rather his previous choice to live a life of crime that did it. Galatians 6:7 says: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The young interpreter also made a wrong choice. Although it had not yet crossed his mind, he too would come to know in the end, that he had reaped what he had sown.
From the time that we rise in the morning till the time we go to bed, we are faced with choices everyday, what we will wear, what or where we will eat, what we will do and where we will go. Some choices have little bearing on our lives, others leave effects that last for a lifetime. Lets think about that as we plan our day today, remembering that the Lord goes with us everywhere we go. Perhaps we may want to change our minds about a choice or two we had contemplated. Make wise choices today and have a great weekend.
Memory verse for the week: (Isaiah 41:10) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
