the Choice Is Yours
I remember taking my nephew to one of those high-quality playgrounds at a fast-food restaurant when he was little. You know, the ones with the jungle gyms with those plastic tubes kids can crawl around in.
As we approached hour three (or so it seemed) of this fun time together, I confidently and sweetly told him in my kindest Auntie voice that it was time to go.
My nephew vehemently disagreed with this decision.
Determined to extend this "fun" playtime, he went to the highest point in that plastic, germ-filled maze and found a spot right in the center where he could get a good look at me. He plopped himself down in defiance, staring me down with a devilish little smirk on his face.
I beckoned, I bribed, I threatened. He did not budge.
Other kids tapped him on the shoulder, urging him to move along, but he wouldn't budge. His stubborn blue eyes twinkled and stayed locked in with my exasperated ones.
He was thoroughly enjoying this little game he was playing as other kids crawled over him, kicking him in the head with their little sock-covered feet as they made their way through the tube.
Sweat poured down my back as I contemplated squeezing my oversized body into that tube and pulling him down by his ear or maybe just leaving him there altogether.
A wise mother approached me and assured me this was a common occurrence and that the best thing to do was sit calmly, wait patiently, and let him come to me.
She urged me to sit with her and bought me a chocolate shake to calm my nerves. She laughed as I told her how this experience solidified my decision never to have children of my own.
Distracted by chocolate and conversation, imagine my surprise when my sassy, sweaty little nephew suddenly appeared at my side, filled with happy smiles and excitement. He gave me the biggest hug and turned his focus on getting a sip of my shake.
I could have lectured him, lost my temper, explained how naughty he was, yelled, and shamed him in front of everyone.
But I just looked into those baby blue eyes and laughed as I picked him up, hugged his soggy little body, and told him how happy I was that he was with me again.
I don't know about you, but I have sat with that same defiant smirk determined in my refusal to move as God beckoned me to get out of my mess and come to Him.
God knows when it is time to go, but sometimes, we simply don't wanna.
He could force a rescue. He could surely squeeze His way in and force us out by our ears as we kick and scream the whole way.
But that isn't God's way.
God gives us the choice to stay or go.
He is always there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Excited for our return to Him.
Are you ready to go?
Rather than sitting in defiance with that sassy little smirk on your face, unwilling to move as you rationalize your choices of remaining in the mucky maze you have found yourself in, it may be time to move along and find your way out.
God is ready to embrace you with open arms.
The choice is yours.
Your rescue is waiting, and God has great plans for you when you are ready to move along.
It's time to go, don’t you think?
God has found you, and He is never, EVER going to let you go.
PS - I searched for scriptures about God providing a chocolate shake when He rescues us, but no luck.
Isaiah 30:18
So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
2 Peter3:9
The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Isaiah 55: 6-7
Seek God while he’s here to be found, pray to him while he’s close at hand. Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to God, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.