Gummy Bear Decisions

Have you ever made a decision you regretted later? 

Maybe you decided to do something that would offer a moment of pleasure, but the end result wasn’t so pleasant. For example, have you ever been thirsty, and instead of reaching for a bottle of water, you chose a soda or coffee, or even a milkshake? 

Or have you ever been hungry, but instead of getting a healthy meal, you chose fast food? We all know what the better choices are. However, we sometimes accept less than the best and pay for it later.

It seems like we live in a world where unhealthy choices are the norm and even preferred. I must say I have been guilty of making wrong choices—and even justifying my decision with: “It is too expensive to eat healthy” or “It’s not convenient” or “It just doesn’t taste as good.” 

I remember when I was taking classes at Regent University, pursuing my degree in leadership. I would stay up late working on my papers—with a few bags of gummy bears right next to my stack of books. I convinced myself it was the only way I could stay focused while I studied. 

Well, as you can imagine, after eating those gummies every night, I experienced the worst upset stomach, and I felt like I was bloated and just miserable. Of course, there were better food choices, like grapes or apple slices, but my decision was based on instant gratification and my sweet tooth rather than my health and wellbeing. 

Making quality decisions is important, and it determines our quality of life. Every decision comes with an action, and every action comes with a consequence. And every consequence affects our quality of life. 

In the book of Amos, chapters 4 to 6, the children of Israel made decisions that were contrary to the will and way of God, and, therefore, faced very difficult consequences for their actions. 

The Lord God Almighty wanted nothing more than for the children of Israel to turn back to Him and lay aside their sinful ways. He even said to them, “Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4 NKJV), and it is repeated in verse 6 with "Seek the LORD and live. 

I love that even when we make poor decisions, our loving God and Father always shows us the way back to Him and what is right. In fact, the Bible is full of stories that teach us the importance of doing what is right in the sight of God and not man. 

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).

If there is anything that causes us to walk contrary to the will, the way, and the Word of God, we must make the decision to let it go and live for Christ. There are so many temptations that capture our attention and pull us away from righteous living and the things of God, but we must resist them at all costs. 

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

So, be careful of gummy bear decisions. 

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.