Today in our culture we are faced with making many choices. As a matter of fact all of life is a series of choices. Making choices is an important part of making our lives a strong message. If we choose wisely it is reasonable to expect there will be acceptable outcomes. If we make unwise choices we can expect unacceptable results. Oh yes, we can be forgiven for our imprudent choices, but, unfortunately, the consequences of those poor choices will follow us through all of life.

If we want to construct a strong life message that will be meaningful, we must never compromise our values and convictions. That brings me to a most important question. Do you know what you value? If not, search your minds and hearts to determine what you really believe and why. Beliefs (convictions) cause us to evaluate our actions and measure our behavior. Our convictions represent the values we hold as true and morally right, the absolutes which guide our choices and decisions and fashion our lives.

Today few people have non-negotiable convictions. They operate according to the pleasure principle (Judges 21:25). They ask, "How do I feel about this or that?" If something feels good or right to them, they do it. They focus on whatever immediate need they may be feeling. This leads quickly to choices that cause us to compromise our values. These choices can be the catalyst for a downward spiral to mediocrity so that our lives become erratic and inconsistent. In this way we lose our impact and influence on society and on those we hold most dear. Mediocrity saturates the very fabric of our lives.

On the other hand, values and convictions which are based on eternal absolutes are oriented toward the future, rather than the pleasure of the moment. They ask: "What is the right thing to do in this situation?" They are concerned about what God thinks, rather than what other people think. "‘For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jer. 29:11). Values, convictions and choices founded on inalterable principles and absolutes will endure the test of time, and will thereby send a very strong life message. If we refuse to place our trust in an infinite standard of truth (Deut. 32:4), where can we go to find a moral and ethical standard upon which we can build a strong life message?

Life is too significant and important for any of us to settle for mediocrity. The moment we settle for a mediocre standard of living, we've made a choice which compromises ourselves and prevents us from exercising the courage of our convictions. We begin to live a lie by rationalizing and denying the truth, and this becomes a dysfunctional way to escape the consequences of mediocre choices. Jesus said, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free . . . If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:32, 36).

One reason we settle for mediocrity in our lives is because we do not fully recognize our God-given potential as uniquely created human beings. We may have never been told that everyone has great worth and potential (Psalm 139:13-14), or that the choices we make can have a lasting impact on our lives and the lives of others. So we choose to believe that we are worthless and that the choices we make are of little significance.

We can prevent wasting years in mediocrity by implementing the following suggestions.

• Decide early in life what is of eternal value.
• Mentally accept the fact that each of us is of infinite worth (Psalm 8).
• Learn and put into practice methods of decision making and problem solving that will result in wise choices.
• Come to the place where we fully accept and understand that strong moral values, ethics and convictions will hold us and others in good stead.
• Recognize that any time we disregard our values, ethics and convictions, it causes personal erosion of our bodies, souls, spirits—and our society as a whole.

It will cost us something to be counted for what we believe and value because it will involve personal sacrifice (I Peter 3: 13-17). But in the long run, the contribution we've made to our world will long outlive that moment of convenience when we didn't stand for what we believe. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139: 23-24).

With God's help, we can choose to discover the richness of who we are and always choose to walk that out in our daily lives. Decide to live differently, let God be your guide and hang tough. Persevere, be faithful to the end (Phil. 3: 14), fight the good fight and you will finish life's race well (II Tim. 4: 7-8).

©Copyright 1995, El Rophe Center, Inc