It’s My Life- So I choose...

That statement is entirely true. Each and every person is allowed to make their own choices! They don’t have to believe in something because

others do. They don’t have to act as others do.

They choose their own beliefs and their own actions.

You choose! You have free will.

God created us with free will. He does not force our beliefs or actions. He allows us to make our own choices, even if our choice is to turn away from Him. He wants us to do good and to love Him because we choose to, not because we are forced to.

The truth that we have free will is connected to another truth:

There are consequences that result from our choices.

“Every action has a reaction.”

“Every choice has a consequence.”

con·se·quence noun 1. a result or effect of an action

If you choose to do something that you feel is not right – you must accept the consequences of your actions. You must be prepared to accept the potential result or punishment for that action. How often do we hear, “That won’t happen to me. That guy was stupid. I’m too smart to get caught” from someone prior to serving time in prison. This person was not prepared to accept the consequences of their action.

Always consider your consequences to determine if the consequences are worth the choice you want to make. There are times that you may answer, “Yes, it is worth it.” But in many cases, the consequence will outweigh the benefit received from the action.

I can afford to pay the fine if I run the red light.

If I get caught, they will just make me pay a fee and say I can’t come back.

It will make my brother mad, but he’ll get over it.

I can drink a few more beers before driving home,

it’s not like I’ll kill someone.

Choose your actions knowing that there will be consequences and knowing that others will make their choices based on those actions.

Currently, there are professional football players making a point by kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the football game.

This is their choice!

A large number of fans are upset by this as they feel that the players are disrespecting the United States of America. These fans are boycotting the NFL games, NFL paraphernalia, and businesses associated with the NFL.

This is their choice!

The NFL’s ticket sales are down as is the sale of NFL paraphernalia. Many fans stopped watching the games in person or on tv. Advertisers are making decisions whether to continue their advertising at NFL events.

This is the consequence!

It is up to the NFL players to determine if their action was worth the price the NFL is paying as a consequence. Was their action important enough to them to be worth the consequence? If so, then they must accept the results of their actions. They must accept that their fans also have free choice. They must accept that every action has a reaction.

"While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions." – Stephen R. Covey

"Everyone will experience the consequences of his own acts. If his acts are right, he'll get good consequences; if they're not, he'll suffer for it." –

Harry Brown