Hitler made a lot of mistakes during his miserable life, but the biggest mistake he ever made was when he targeted the Jewish people for annihilation. The moment he chose that course he sealed his fate. Had he not made that terrible blunder the Third Reich may well have lasted many years, many decades, even more. (He loudly proclaimed it would last a thousand years. Historians peg its lifespan at 12 years, four months, and eight days – quite a bit less than a thousand years).
Of course the Jewish people made a terrible blunder, too. They rejected their Messiah and delivered Him in to Roman hands to be executed. The apostle Peter told the rabble crowd of Jews who had actually exhorted Pilate to put Jesus to death, “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.” (See Acts 3:13-15).
We all make mistakes, some minor and forgettable while others are far reaching in their consequences. Of the two mistakes mentioned above, the far greater mistake was that made by the Jews when they rejected Jesus Christ. But that mistake is made daily, around the clock, by millions. Time and again men and women, young and old, are confronted with the choice of following and obeying Jesus Christ or living life on their own terms. The overwhelming majority make the latter choice. They decide to do it their way. And, in doing so, they pay a terrible, terrible price.
But do you know what is fantastic? We have the option to change our choice! We can leave the path of self destruction and set our feet on the royal road of the more abundant life. Just as the sailor can set his sail to change his course. We can do the same. Like the prodigal son in Luke’s gospel account, we can abandon our destructive course and return to the Father’s arms. (See Luke 15). I assure you, more than a ring, a robe and a fatted calf will await our return. Yawning out ahead of us will be the gift of eternal life, immortality, life that will never ever end!
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley