When a choice is made, it inevitably leads to a consequence. Regardless of whether the choice is right or wrong, every decision has a clear beginning and an end. The significance or the cost of making a decision hinges on the magnitude of the choice being considered.
My father, Elder Charles Cohenour, made a decision in 1984 not to undergo a colonoscopy. Tragically, in 1994, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. His doctor informed him that if he had undergone the colonoscopy in 1984, there was a high probability that he would not have developed colon cancer.
In 1997, at the age of 72, my father passed away. Just before his passing, he expressed his belief that if he had lived, he could have made a significant contribution to the Body of Christ. Reflecting on his life, I’m certain that in 1984, my father felt incredibly strong and confident. He didn’t feel the need to visit the hospital for a routine test that would have cost him more money than it was worth. However, the reality was that he was unaware of the potential consequences until the outcome in 1994.
Of course, the weight was far greater than he had ever anticipated, and it multiplied exponentially. The weight, or consequence, encompassed every person whose physical health and eventual death would be affected by my father’s. That single decision has had a profound impact on his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, his church, the Body of Christ, its members, and even his worldly acquaintances until this day in 2013. The weight began as a mere seed, blossomed into a tree, and eventually transformed into a vast forest. We cannot definitively assess the magnitude of this matter until a final measure is taken!
Being guided by God’s will and making any decision under His leadership will always be the right choice. Adam’s choice to consume from the tree of Good and Evil, believing the fallen angel (Lucifer), also known as the Devil, was a grave mistake. The consequence of his choice was death—the ultimate value of any choice ever made.
The subtle and inconspicuous impact of my father’s decision to forego colonoscopy is still felt in our family today. Ironically, some of its effects have been beneficial for the family and its members. Given our family’s codependency on our father’s leadership, his absence has accelerated our spiritual growth and maturity, enabling us to become more independent and self-reliant.
IIn addition to the detrimental and almost unbearable consequences, my mother’s health, in my opinion, declined more rapidly than it would have if my father had been here to encourage her to take care of herself. My father’s single decision had a profound and far-reaching impact on numerous outcomes.
My father’s decision to forego a colonoscopy, regardless of whether it was an uninformed choice, a self-imposed one, a poor choice, or perhaps even a wise one, ultimately proved to be the wrong one. If he had been aware beforehand that he would develop cancer a decade later, I am certain he would have undergone the test, if only he had the opportunity to rectify his past decision.
Not making a choice will still result in the same outcome as being self-willed and choosing the wrong option.
Adam discovered hidden costs after making an incorrect choice. These costs were as follows:
(Gen. 3:17) And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast heardken unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
(Gen. 3:18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
(Gen. 3:19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Value is market-driven. The price of any product is determined by the level of demand for it at the moment the buyer decides to purchase it. The exact payment is the amount the producer demands and the amount the buyer is willing to pay. The currency or the items buyers barter with is what the market can afford to pay for the product.
When we make a purchase, whether it’s a car, a house, clothes, food, insurance, or anything else, there are often hidden costs associated with the product. We must either bear these costs or face the consequences. .
(Mat 5:25) Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
(Mat 5:26) Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out of thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
In Adam’s case, he made a choice to purchase something that was forbidden. God explained the consequences of that choice and the price he would have to pay. However, the Devil presented Eve with a different perspective. Eve enticed Adam and offered him something God would not let Adam buy. Lucifer offered Eve godhood! Adam prioritized his own desires and chose to disobey God’s will and follow Eve’s instead. He made a decision to buy something the Devil couldn’t sell him and pay a price he couldn’t afford. This choice continues to impact us to this day!
When we make a choice to serve our own interests and end up with the wrong outcome, we disobey God. We choose our own will over God’s will. By prioritizing our will over God’s, we are not serving God, but rather our father the Devil. This choice comes at a steep price.
(Ezk 18:20) The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
The hidden costs of our choices extend beyond ourselves, affecting others as well. Depending on our decisions, the impact can ripple through our families, neighbors, friends, church, and even our enemies. Our choices can either have a godly or devilish effect on those around us. The right choice can help us and others progress toward perfection, while the wrong choice could lead us and others to the Lake of Fire, the second death!
We need help making choices. The Lord doesn’t want us to procrastinate about making decisions. Instead, He wants us to base our choices on our faith in Him. He instructs us to consult the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. Trust your pastor and seek guidance from those who embody the life of Jesus. Ultimately, we should pray to our Lord for wisdom and discernment, enabling us to consistently make the right choices!
Written by: Charles E. Cohenour Jr.
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