Hey everyone! Karrie here. I was digging through our ministry archives recently and came across a powerful message from Pastor Anthony J. Massotti, Th.M., dated way back to January 3, 1999. Even though it's decades old, the wisdom is so timely for what we're all facing today. It’s all about the choices we make, big and small, and how to spot the "wolf" that tries to steer us off track. I hope this blesses you as much as it did me!
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19, KJV)
Have you ever looked back at a decision and wondered, "What was I thinking?" Have you felt the sharp sting of betrayal, not from a friend or a stranger, but from your own internal compass? Why is it that when we stand at the crossroads of a major life change, the "right" path often feels like a mountain we cannot climb, while the "wrong" path looks like a sun-drenched valley? Why do we find ourselves sipping from the poisoned chalice of our own desires when the Living Water is right in front of us?
As we journey together through this life, we often treat our daily decisions as minor matters of preference. We think choosing between "my way" and "God’s way" is a simple debate of convenience. But as Pastor Anthony J. Massotti, Th.M. taught in his landmark 1999 message, these aren't just choices; they are matters of life and death.
The Logic of the Soul
Consider a simple, logical dichotomy. If you were handed two bottles, one filled with pure, refreshing water and the other with a lethal, caustic poison, which would you drink? If you had to choose between a home flooded with the brilliant, steady light of electricity or one flickering in the dim uncertainty of a single candle, which would you inhabit?
In his archive writing, "Choose Life, Not Poison," Pastor Anthony J. Massotti, Th.M. (1/3/1999) observes: "I believe that no rational, thinking person would make the wrong choice in any of these choices!"
Yet, when the scenario shifts from physical survival to spiritual obedience, our logic often fails us. When we face a decision that pits our will against the Will of God, why do we hesitate? We are offered Heaven, yet we flirt with the borders of Hell. We are offered Life, yet we entertain the whispers of Death.
The Great Deception: "But I Want To…"
How many times have we uttered the phrases: "I feel…", "But I want to…", or "I just think…"? These are the firebrands of emotional devastation. They are the linguistic markers of a soul that is attempting to override the Sovereignty of the Creator. We treat our feelings as if they are the ultimate authority, forgetting that our hearts can be a "wolf cloaked in sheep’s clothing."
We must understand a critical linguistic distinction in our walk of faith. There is a profound difference between a "mistake" and a "choice." A mistake is an accidental stumble; a choice is a deliberate redirection of the foot. When we say "I want," we are effectively telling the Almighty that our limited, temporal perspective is superior to His eternal wisdom.
Does He not have our best interest at heart? Of course, He does. Then why is it so hard to obey? Why do we treat the commands of God as if they were suggestions from a stranger rather than the loving guidance of a Father?
The Enemy Disguised as YOU
The answer to this struggle is found in the parable of the wheat and the tares. When the servants asked why there were weeds in the field, the master replied, "An enemy hath done this" (Matthew 13:28, KJV).
This is the core of our spiritual warfare. You must realize that you have an adversary who is a master of disguise. He does not always appear with a pitchfork and a roar; more often, he appears in the mirror. Pastor Anthony J. Massotti, Th.M. warns us that the enemy often disguises himself as YOU.
When those thoughts of rebellion rise, those "I feel" and "I want" moments, they may sound like your own voice, but they are often the influence of the one who seeks to destroy you. He uses your own vocabulary and your own history to craft a narrative that leads to the poison bottle.
YOU must do something. YOU must recognize that not every thought that enters your mind is your own. If a thought contradicts the Word of God, it is an intruder. It is a tare sown in the field of your heart by an enemy who wants you to choose Death while calling it "freedom."
Practical Spiritual Growth Resources
To resist this deception and keep growing in faith, we need to ground ourselves in solid biblical teaching. We cannot rely on our emotions to navigate the treacherous waters of this world. We need the Light of God to expose the shadows.
Here are three ways to discern the "Poison" from the "Life" in your daily decisions:
- Consult the Lamp: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105, KJV). Before you say "I feel," ask "What does God say?" If your feeling doesn't align with the KJV scripture, your feeling is the poison.
- Unmask the Voice: When you feel a strong urge to do something you know is wrong, stop and say, "Is this me, or is an enemy doing this?" By naming the spiritual warfare, you strip the enemy of his disguise.
- Sacrifice the "I": True christian education teaches us that we are not our own; we were bought with a price. We must learn to sacrifice our "want" for His "will."
Pastor Anthony J. Massotti, Th.M. (1/3/1999) reminds us: "Your real choice is to resist the devil, even if he should disguise himself as YOU; and in so doing you will find yourself making the right choices more and more. You KNOW God’s voice, for you are His sheep."
Choosing to Live Again
The decision-making process is the front line of your spiritual life. Every time you choose God’s will over your own, you are clearing the "dirt in the vase" and allowing the Light of God to shine through you with more clarity. This is the essence of spiritual growth resources, learning to distinguish the Shepherd's voice from the wolf's howl.
It is time to stop being distracted by the wolf cloaked in your own clothing. It is time to put down the bottle of poison that tastes sweet for a moment but kills the soul.
Behold, the door is open. No man can shut it, but YOU must walk through it. Will you choose the flickering candle of your own intellect, or the brilliant radiance of His Truth? Will you choose the death of your own "wants" or the life of His "Will"?
CHOOSE LIFE.
CHOOSE GOD.
CHOOSE RIGHT.
And behold, you will feel like you are truly living again.
I hope this throwback to 1999 really challenges you today! It’s such a good reminder that we aren't just fighting our own bad habits, but an enemy who is very good at sounding just like us. If you want to dive deeper into this teaching, you can read the full archive piece here: Choose Life, Not Poison.
Stay strong in the Word, everyone!
( Karrie)
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