The Choice Before Us: Preparing for What's Coming

# The Choice Before Us: Preparing for What's Coming

Life constantly presents us with choices. Some are trivial—what to eat for breakfast or which route to take to work. Others carry eternal weight. The second chapter of Romans confronts us with one of these weighty choices: how we respond to God's warnings and whether we're truly prepared for what's ahead.

## Heeding the Warning

Consider the story of an elderly couple who chose to ignore mandatory evacuation orders during Hurricane Ian. Despite repeated warnings about the category 4 storm approaching, they decided to stay in their home. The husband, filming the rising floodwaters, uttered haunting words: "This was a mistake." Tragically, he lost his life when their roof collapsed.

This heartbreaking account illustrates a profound spiritual truth: when warnings are issued, we must take them seriously. God has issued humanity a clear warning—His wrath is coming. Just as the only way to truly prepare for a catastrophic hurricane is to evacuate, the only way to prepare for God's wrath is through Jesus Christ.

Romans 2:5-6 speaks directly to this reality: "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds."

God's wrath isn't a popular topic in contemporary culture, but ignoring it doesn't make it less real. The question isn't whether judgment is coming—it's whether you're prepared to face it.

## The Danger of a Hardened Heart

Every time we give in to sin, our hearts harden. It's a gradual process, almost imperceptible at first. Your heart naturally wants to harden because your flesh craves sin. Each time you indulge those cravings, your heart becomes less sensitive to God's voice and less willing to forgive others.

The word "impenitent" means unforgiving. A hardened heart becomes an unforgiving heart, and with each hardening, you store up more of God's wrath.

Are you struggling with forgiveness? It's likely because you're struggling with a hard heart. Are you struggling with a hard heart? It's probably because you're struggling with obedience. Are you struggling with obedience? You may not be spending time in your secret place seeking God daily. And if you're not seeking God daily, you're likely struggling with pride—believing you're sufficient in yourself.

You may never verbalize these thoughts, but your fruit reveals the truth. If you were truly dependent upon God alone, it would be nearly impossible to go about your daily activities without first spending time with Him. He should be your driving force, your sustenance, your focus.

## Nothing Goes Unnoticed

Here's a truth many Christians miss: God sees everything. Nothing good and nothing bad escapes His notice.

Every good gift in your life came from God Himself. He also has control over all circumstances. When difficult things happen, sometimes it's His conviction or chastisement—a loving Father drawing you away from sin. Sometimes it's a trial or test of faith. Sometimes it's simply the result of living in a fallen, broken world. But none of it is outside of God's awareness or sovereignty.

Scripture reminds us in Matthew 6:19-21 to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Our service to God doesn't save us, but it does store up eternal rewards. Each person's experience in heaven will be different based on their faithfulness, though there will be no jealousy—only love and admiration.

Where is your heart focused? On earthly treasures that will fade, rust, and be stolen? Or on heavenly treasures that are eternal?

## More Than Sunday Morning

Some people believe their "good works" consist of showing up to church around 10:43 AM, humming along with songs, shaking a few hands, dropping something in the offering plate, nodding during the sermon, and leaving thirty seconds after the service ends—not thinking about God again until next Sunday.

That isn't it.

True faith requires being plugged in, doing the works God created specifically for you, investing in ministry, participating in Bible studies, and allowing Scripture to penetrate your hard heart and transform you from the inside out.

Jeremiah 17:10 declares: "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

God isn't just watching your actions; He's examining your heart. Intentions matter far more than outward works. Your "why" is more important than your "what." When your motivation is serving and worshiping God for who He is and what He has done, the actions naturally follow.

## Two Paths, Two Destinations

Romans 2:7-8 presents two contrasting paths:

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath."

This doesn't mean salvation comes through works—we're saved by faith in Jesus alone. But genuine love for Jesus manifests in obedience. As Jesus said in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

What are those commandments? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.

Love equals action. Action equals obedience. Obedience equals love.

Here's a crucial truth: as a human being, you will obey someone or something. The question is whether you'll obey God or obey unrighteousness. Your character reveals the answer.

The fruit of God's character includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. The fruit of unrighteousness includes fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, deceit, gossip, backbiting, hatred, pride, disobedience, and unforgiveness.

What is your fruit?

## The State of Your Soul

Romans 2:9-10 contrasts two spiritual conditions: "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil... But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good."

What characterizes your soul? Tribulation and anguish, or glory, honor, and peace? Not your circumstances—your soul.

Are you at peace? If not, you may be obeying the wrong thing. Satan brings chaos, tribulation, and anguish. God brings peace, security, and love.

Many people today claim to be Christians yet walk around gloomy, depressed, anxious, and worried—the opposite of peace. Your soul reveals where you truly stand.

## God's Impartiality

Romans 2:11 states: "For there is no respect of persons with God."

God doesn't show favoritism. He can't be bribed or influenced by your title, wealth, church membership, or position. All that matters to Him is whether you're saved or lost.

We humans constantly label, elevate, promote, and demote people—usually based on what they can do for us. That's not how Jesus operated. Jesus loved everyone equally—the masses and individuals, the powerful and the rejected, the healthy and the sick, the found and the lost.

Jesus spoke truth to Caesar the same way He spoke truth to the leper. He had time for everyone because He didn't respect persons the way humans do.

## Where Are You?

The choice is before you. God's wrath is real, and a day of judgment is coming. You cannot face it on your own and survive. But Jesus offers you protection—He took God's wrath in your place.

Accept Jesus, confess and repent of your sins, make Him your Lord and Savior, and walk in newness of life. You've been warned. The storm is coming.

The question is: will you heed the warning?