Introduction
     Our lives are the sum of our choices. This statement is straightforward, but we should also consider another variable: Our lives impact others’ lives.
    To that end, therefore, we must work on ourselves … not giving place to ego or pride by comparing ourselves to others (2 Cor. 10:12); not thinking ourselves as something more than what we appear before others to be (2 Cor. 12:6); and certainly, not nitpicking others we think could be doing better. The truth is, we can all do better! We’d do well, regarding Yahshua’s observation:
    Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye, Matthew 7:3-5. (The New American Standard Bible (1995) used throughout, unless otherwise noted.)
    We should be focused upon lifting up others – especially, the body of Messiah – helping them to experience good and fruitful lives (1 Cor. 14:12; Eph. 4:29; 1 Thess. 5:11). We’d like to see a domino effect of good things passed on to others.

We’re Not There, Yet
     Concerning choices, we’re not at the end of our physical lives. Death will mark the accumulation and sum of our choices. Our works will follow after us, good and bad (Rev. 14:13). Hopefully, either by the return of Messiah Yahshua or by the time of our end, we will have built up much good in our character so that we enter into eternal life. Help proceeds from the Father and the Son, empowering us to do the Father’s will, perfectly (Heb. 13:21; Phil. 2:13).
    The Master enjoined us to be perfect even as our Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:38). This is our goal. As a child learns, so do the disciples of the Master. Like young children maturing as they grow older, we, too, are growing spiritually and becoming better at discerning right from wrong (Heb. 5:14), choosing and cleaving to what is good and abhorring and shunning what is evil (Rom. 12:9; 1 Pet. 3:11). Like children, we proceed from a spiritual crawl (beginning with our humbly coming to contrite repentance) to walking and then running.
    Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them, Hosea 14:9.
    Our understanding of the Word of Yahweh becomes clearer and much more incorporated into our lives as we practice what is preached and become aligned with Yahweh’s Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
    Our physical growth is measurable and so also, is our spiritual maturity:
    Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Yahshua Messiah, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our Elohim and Savior, Yahshua Messiah: seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and righteousness, through the true knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, righteousness, and in your righteousness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Yahshua Messiah. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins, 2 Peter 1:1-9.
    If we are unwilling to grow, then we will be like a dead tree, needing to be cut down.

Bad Trees Cut Down
     It bears repeating (as we do in many of our messages) that the reason for the Messiah having come was to forgive our past sins (Acts 13:38), not to continue in them (Rom. 3:24-25, 6:1-2).
    John, the immerser had something to say to the “religious” of his day … disobedient Pharisees and Sadducees, in need of being cleansed from their sins. John’s baptism was one of repentance (Luke 3:3; Acts 19:4). He enjoined their repentance before being baptized.
    But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones Elohim is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire,” Matthew 3:7-10.
    This is John’s point to them, and to those of “religion” today. One should not think he can continue sinning with impunity.
    Yahshua also, emphasized this first requirement of repentance, saying,
    Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Yahshua said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish,” Luke 13:1-5.
    Following His recounting of these occurrences, Yahshua speaks a parable about an unproductive fig tree. It was given time, three years during which it was cared for, and was destined for the axe except for the plea of the husbandman who appealed for yet one more year at the end of which, if it had not borne fruit it should be cut down rather than continue to encumber the ground (Luke 13:6-9). That was the ruling; it will also be the ruling for those who know better but refuse to produce good fruit.
    This parable also relates to another, of the talents in which a steward to whom was given a portion of his master’s substance to invest for the purpose of gain, that upon his return he should have his own together with the usury it had earned, instead buried what had been committed to his trust. And when his master returned, the unprofitable servant was cast out into outer darkness in which there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth – obviously, an indirect reference to the lake of fire and second death (Matt. 25:14-30). (Request your free mini-study entitled, Just One Resurrection? and the in-depth booklet called, Understanding Hellfire.)
    Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment, John 5:28-29.

Choose Life
     Choice is the product of man’s exercise of free will bestowed upon humanity by the Creator. That choice, proceeding from man’s exercise of free will, can result in a positive or a negative outcome. Yahweh had set life and good, death and evil, blessing and cursing, before ancient Israel before they stepped across the Jordan into Canaan (Deut. 30:15, 19) then urged this people Israel to choose life. We, too, are told to choose life for a reason: That we live and fulfill the purpose Yahweh has in mind. Observing Yahweh’s way of living is always right.
    Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil, Proverbs 3:5-7.
    Trusting and acknowledging Yahweh in all our ways means that we are choosing life on a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day basis. This process defines our long-term goals and plans. While we don’t always know what’s best, Yahweh has a way of directing us to the best outcome if we commit everything we do, to Him. If we commit our works to Yahweh, our plans will be established (Prov. 16:3).
    The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear Elohim and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For Elohim will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. (Read our mini-study, The Hope of Israel.)

Negative Outcomes
     Do not be deceived, Elohim is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life, Galatians 6:7-8.
    Let’s take a look at the outcome of some of the decisions made by individuals in Scripture.
    Adam and Eve, listening to Satan, sinned against Yahweh and lost their place in the Garden of Eden and access to the Tree of Life (Gen. 31-24). What Yahweh intended for a blessing, became a curse to them.
    Cain was jealous of his brother Abel because of Yahweh having greater respect toward the younger’s offering and subsequently murdered his brother. Cain was then forced to live as a fugitive the remainder of his life, spared from another’s vengeance because of a sevenfold requital Yahweh would impose upon any who would slay him.
    In Genesis, chapter 11, we read of a people who thought to make a name for themselves, instead of honoring Yahweh by lifting His Name to be esteemed. – just like Satan in the account in Isaiah 14 – by building a tower whose top would reach to heaven. This they did, in rebellion against Yahweh’s commandment that man should “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). For Yahweh had created the earth to be inhabited (Isa. 45:18). Consequently, their language was confused into many languages, forcing them to abandon their foolish endeavor.
    Abraham and Sarah, and their posterity through Isaac, have suffered the consequences of making a bad choice. Principally, leaning to their own understanding and not trusting Yahweh to fulfill His promise of giving them a child in their old age. Abraham deferred to Sarah’s suggestion that he take to himself her Egyptian handmaid, and a child named Ishmael issued from them. Ishmael’s progeny has ever since, been a thorn in the side of Israel.
    Esau (Edom) lost his birthright as the elder son, by rejecting it for a bowl of lentil stew (Gen. 25:30-34). His father Isaac, in bestowing a secondary blessing upon him, prophesied that he would serve his brother Jacob (Israel), besides living by the sword (Gen. 27:37-40). He vowed to slay his brother Jacob. Indeed, Israel’s and Esau’s descendants have been in a family feud ever since. The prophet Obadiah foretells the end of Esau’s descendants.
    Moses, in his frustration with the people’s continued rebellion against Yahweh, struck the rock he’d been commanded to speak to, in providing them with water in the wilderness (Num. 20:10). His own act of disobedience, however, precluded him from being able to go into the promised land, despite his appeal to Yahweh he be permitted to do so (Deut. 3:26).

Positive Outcomes
     Reflecting on the positive outcomes of past decisions, we read of persons like Job who, though having lost flocks and herds, a very large substance, and his seven children also, and being encouraged by his wife to curse Yahweh and then die, instead rebuked his wife for her foolhardy suggestion, and worshipped Yahweh, saying,
    “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the Name of Yahweh.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame Elohim, Job 1:21-22 declaring, moreover, “though He slay me, I will hope in Him (Job 13:15).
    Little wonder, that with this attitude, Yahweh restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends and increased all his substance twofold … blessing his latter days more than his beginning (Job 42:10, 1:2).
    Job teaches us that even in seasons of trouble, we should keep the following Scripture in mind:
    “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares Yahweh, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,” Jeremiah 29:11.
    While this is a reference to Judah who eventually went into Babylonian captivity due to their persistent sinning, these words also speak to those whom Yahweh calls.
    Noah lived at a time when the wickedness was great upon the earth; a time when every imagination of the thoughts of men’s hearts was only evil continually (Gen. 6:5). Yet, the Scripture concludes of him, as it does of Job who was “blameless, upright, fearing Elohim, and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1), that he was a righteous man, blameless in his time, walking with Elohim and finding grace in the eyes of Yahweh (Gen. 6:9, 8). He and his entire family were sanctified and blessed, and once the waters receded, were issued the same commandment as the Creator gave to Adam: to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 19:1, 1:28). All the families of the earth have come from Noah and his sons.
    Abraham (exalted father of a great multitude), too, made some good decisions. Of all the Bible personalities, He alone has the honorable distinction of being called a friend of Yahweh (2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23). Of him, it is written, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahweh, to do justice and judgment; that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him, Genesis 18:19, KJV. Abraham proceeded through the line of Shem, one of Noah’s sons who were saved on the ark.
    By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is Elohim, Hebrews 11:8-10.
    Of honorable mention is he in the Scriptures … a man who was not weak in faith; who neither staggered at the promise of Yahweh through unbelief, but was strong in faith; fully persuaded that what Yahweh had promised, He was able also to perform and whose faith, therefore, was counted to him for righteousness (Rom. 4:19-22).
    To walk in the kind of faith is pleasing to Yahweh – a faith which produced a favorable outcome, seen in all the earth.
    Yahweh speaking to Isaac, said, I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws, Genesis 26:4-5.

Be a Blessing, and Be Blessed
     Many Psalms are written by David, that man after Yahweh’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). And quite a few of them start with “Bless Yahweh!” How did King David bless Yahweh? Well, when he was reproved of sin, he immediately repented and stopped doing those things which were contrary to Yahweh’s Word. In his actions, he showed his faith and his obedience became a blessing to Yahweh.
    Blessing Yahweh by word and action will help us obtain a good outcome. Faith, too, is integral in blessing Yahweh. We mention Yahweh because without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Elohim must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, Hebrews 11:6.
    Moreover, we bless Yahweh by seeking the well-being of others, giving instead of getting, as
    Let no one seek his own [good], but that of his neighbor, 1 Corinthians 10:24 and,
    Do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others, Philippians 2:4 and,
    In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Master Yahshua, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” Acts 20:35.

Sometimes, Suffering Just Happens
     Sometimes, suffering just happens. But for the saints there truly is a purpose. In his notable faith chapter, the author of Hebrews mentions those who experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawn asunder, put to death with the sword. Destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, they wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground, appareled in sheepskins and goatskins (Heb. 11:36-38). They suffered because Satan, the prince of this world, is in the world, seeking whom he may kill and destroy, and the whole world suffers because of it. Yes, Yahweh allows suffering even among the saints. And, yes, even by the hand of Satan.
    Yahshua’s disciples all suffered. Indeed, all that live righteously, will suffer (2 Tim. 3:12). The Apostle Paul, suffered more … perhaps because he inflicted more upon the saints. However, from his own weakness and suffering, he became strong, not trusting in himself. He concluded,
    Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of Yahweh, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of Yahweh. And even if our evangel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the evangel of the glory of Messiah, Who is the image of Yahweh. For we do not preach ourselves but Messiah Yahshua as Master, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Yahshua’s sake. For Elohim, Who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of Elohim in the face of Messiah. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of Elohim and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, 2 Corinthians 4:1-9.

Rejoice, Knowing the Outcome
     Can we rejoice in suffering … especially if, for righteousness’ sake, we suffer? Suffering serves to challenge us. The Apostle Peter observed:
    In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yahshua Messiah; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 1 Peter 1:6-8.
    Paul agrees, writing in Romans 5:3-5:
    And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of Elohim has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given to us.
    We know that it is through much tribulation that we must enter into eternal life. While suffering is set at variance with human nature, we can embrace suffering, for through the power of Yahweh’s Spirit within us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31). Not even the struggles we face can overcome us if we walk in the power of Him Who is within us. Therefore, we strive toward the end, in order to be worthy of the Kingdom to come.
    This was the encouragement the Apostles provided to, and received from, the Assembly of Thessalonica:
    Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in Elohim our Father and the Master Yahshua Messiah: Grace to you and peace from Elohim the Father and the Master Yahshua Messiah. We ought always to give thanks to Elohim for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the assemblies of Elohim for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of Elohim’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of Elohim, for which indeed you are suffering, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5.

Love Like a Seed is to Grow
     As we just read, “the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.” Love, growing ever greater toward one another – this is how it should be, the culmination of Peter’s illustration of the progression of grace, beginning with faith (2 Pet. 1:5-7) … like Paul’s digest in 1 Corinthians 13:13 – But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
    Conversely, love which is the progressive culmination of the work of faith in the Apostles’ epistolary dissertations, is mentioned as the first attribute of the Fruit of the Spirit presented in Galatians 5:22-23. The eight attributes which follow – joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – may be thought then, as products of love, appropriately describing the character of Yahweh Whom John says is, LOVE: The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is Love, 1 John 4:8.
    It is through the Spirit (Yahweh is Spirit) of Love that we grow. After faith and repentance, we continue to grow through outward demonstration of an inward Source.
    Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of Elohim, 1 Peter 1:22-23.

In Conclusion
     We began this treatise by asserting our lives are the sum of our choices. We can change direction at any time but we are advised by Scripture, once we’ve embarked on the direction Yahweh wants us to go, to continue moving forward – forgetting those things which are behind (Phil. 3:13). Yahshua informs us that once we put our hands on the plow, if we should look back, we’re not fit for the Kingdom of Elohim (Luke 9:62).
    We looked at examples from Scripture whose outcomes were not good when men made wrong choices. On the other hand, good outcomes proceeded from right choices. The Record bears witness that one can change his outcome, however, by changing his disposition. Note Ezekiel 18:20-32:
    The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.
    “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares Yahweh Elohim, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. Yet you say, “The way of Yahweh is not right.” Hear now, O house of Israel! “Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?”
    When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. But the house of Israel says, “The way of Yahweh is not right.” Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares Yahweh Elohim. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares Yahweh Elohim. “Therefore, repent and live.” (emphasis, ours)
    The decisions we make each day affect the sum of who we are, and what our end will be. Again, the call is to choose life, and to help others along the path that leads to eternal life.
    Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Master is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible servant whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil servant says in his heart, “My master is not coming for a long time,” and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matthew 24:42-51.